Zika virus: Give women access to contraception, abortion, says UN

Geneva: The United Nations urged countries hit by the dangerous Zika virus to let women have access to contraception and abortion. The UN human rights office said the South American countries now urging women to hold off getting pregnant over Zika fears had to offer them the possibility of controlling their fertility. Many of these countries are conservative Catholic and have very restrictive abortion and contraceptive laws.

UN human rights chief UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said this warning meant little in countries that ban or heavily restrict access to reproductive health services. Instead, he insisted that governments must "ensure women, men and adolescents have access to comprehensive and affordable quality sexual and reproductive health services and information."

WHO's warning
Meanwhile, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised all the nations against accepting blood donation from countries affected by the Zika virus.