Although the current risk of the Zika virus spreading to Macedonia is very low, health authorities are nevertheless taking precautionary measures, especially after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global emergency on Monday.

"The risk for this viral infection to appear in Macedonia is extremely low because the virus is transmitted by certain type of mosquitoes only. Still, there is a chance that people travelling to the affected countries can bring the virus to Macedonia," said Zvonko Milenkovic, the president of the National Commission for Prevention of Contagious Diseases, when speaking to Xinhua in Skopje.

The commission met to discuss specific measures it would take as a precaution and protection from the tropical virus.

"We will initiate early spraying treatment against mosquitoes throughout the country in March. Also, we are purchasing the necessary tests for detecting the Zika virus in a patient. They should arrive in the next 2 to 3 weeks," Jovanka Kostovska of the Macedonian health ministry said on Tuesday.

Epidemiologists say the virus is spreading far and fast and the risk will increase in the spring and summer months. The main symptoms of the virus are elevated temperature, conjunctivitis, muscle aches. But the infection in pregnant women has been linked to cases of microcephaly, a condition wherein babies are born with underdeveloped brains.

"We are launching a campaign to educate the population on how to recognize the symptoms of the Zika virus and how to protect themselves in case they travel in affected countries," Zharko Karadzovski, an epidemiology specialist from the Institute for Public Health, told Xinhua. Endit

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