Nigeria issues travel restriction due to Zika virus

Travel restriction has been placed on Nigerians who intend to visit Latin America following the outbreak of Zika virus in that region, the government said on Friday.

Nigeria's minister of health Isaac Adewole said the travel restriction, especially on pregnant women, will be on until the situation improves worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned the virus is spreading "explosively" in Latin America.

Nigeria has begun to closely monitor and screen people at various port of entry, especially for the people with recent travel history to Latin America, the official said, adding no single case has so far been recorded in the West African country.

Since 2014, Zika cases have been reported in the Americas and imported cases have been confirmed in Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control has commenced Zika virus diagnosis as part of ongoing effort to manage the present Lassa fever outbreak in the country, the senior health official said.

Symptoms of Zika virus, which spreads to people through mosquito bites and is linked to severe birth defects, include fever, joint pain, rash, conjunctivitis, headache, muscle pain and eye pain.

The absence of vaccines, specific treatments and rapid diagnostic tests for the disease means it has the potential to spread internationally.

The Zika virus infection was first discovered in Brazil in 2014.