Health: Zika Virus

Debate between Lord Prior of Brampton and Baroness Seccombe

Thursday 4th February 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I understand that the common mosquito which we find in southern Europe could potentially carry Zika, which I think was reported in the Times today. There is as yet no evidence that it does carry Zika, but it is something that we need to watch very carefully.

[Baroness Seccombe (Con)]

My Lords, is the fever notifiable, so that a record is kept of this event?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

My Lords, one of the problems of this illness is that four out of five people are asymptomatic—they have no symptoms. For many of the others, the symptoms are such that it is a very light cold or light flu. That is one of the problems with this illness.