Airports boost efforts to stop spread of Zika virus: UN agency

Airports are stepping up efforts to reduce populations of mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus in order to prevent its spread, the UN aviation agency said on Thursday. "The management of the outbreak is currently focused on reducing the populations of the Aedes mosquito that transmit the virus at airports (vector control)," the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said. Vector control refers to the spraying of insecticides or other pest control measures. The Montreal-based agency urged airlines and airport authorities to follow World Health Organisation guidelines on the testing and use of insecticides for aircraft, including new guidance specifically related to the Zika virus. Meanwhile, "aviation stakeholders will continue to share information and resources in order to assist with controlling the outbreak," it added, saying it was working closely with the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<br/>