Pestilence

AP - UN health chief: Zika virus is 'spreading explosively'
The AP reports: "The Zika virus is 'spreading explosively' in the Americas, which could see up to 4 million cases over the next year, international health officials said Thursday, announcing a special meeting next week to decide if they should declare an international health emergency. The warning from the World Health Organization came amid a call to arms by officials on both sides of the Atlantic over the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to a spike in a rare birth defect in Brazil. Brazil's president — noting there is no medical defense against the infection — called for a crusade against the mosquitoes spreading it."

Comment: It's very worrisome that the virus is spread by mosquitoes, which seem abundant despite efforts to eradicate them.