It’s not every day we have The World Health Organization (WHO) launching mobile apps. Earlier this month, however, the organization unveiled the WHO Zika app, which — as you would imagine — offers medical reference information about the Zika virus.

The Zika virus has been in the media for more times than we could count; for those who missed it – it is a disease that is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms include mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, and a headache, but that by itself is not a big problem — there are deadlier viruses mosquitoes can bear. It’s the pregnant women who should avoid mosquitoes as Zika has been linked with microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with a significantly smaller head than expected.

WHO’s Zika app is specifically designed for healthcare workers and responders, offering technical guidance, a link to WHO’s response plan, research and development updates, situation reports, and training. There’s also a section for the general public with information on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The WHO’s official website only lists one official app, called WHO Info, that offers users the latest health news, alerts of outbreaks, and other content. That app is available in six languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and Russian.

[Via: mobihealthnews]