GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says the outbreak of Zika remains an international health emergency and noted the virus is continuing to infect new countries.

The U.N. health agency convened its expert committee this week to assess the latest status of the epidemic.

Dr. David Heymann, the committee's chair, said Friday that considerable gaps remain in understanding Zika and the complications it causes — including brain-damaged babies — and WHO concluded that the outbreak remains a global emergency.

WHO noted that Brazil has not reported any confirmed cases of Zika following the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, although studies are ongoing in the country to figure out why certain regions have seen an increase in babies being born with abnormally small heads.

To date, Zika has infected 72 countries and territories.