Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Zika Virus Research Agenda - October 2016
REPORT
from World Health Organization Published on 26 Oct 2016 —View Original
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Background
Zika virus is a growing concern – it is endemic in parts of Africa, has been reported in South East Asia and is becoming established in the Americas and Caribbean. Since its detection in Brazil in 2015, it has emerged as a major public health challenge in the Americas. As of 16 June 20161, 60 countries and territories report continuing mosquito-borne transmission of which:
The wide geographical range of the mosquito vector of the virus and the emerging complications of infection call for a global response. Based on the advice of the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Director-General declared the clusters of microcephaly cases and the other neurological disorders in endemic areas as constituting a public health emergency of international concern on 1 February 2016.
Further to this declaration, WHO activated an emergency Incident Management System to coordinate the international response. This has included the development of a global Zika Strategic Response Plan2 encompassing surveillance, response activities and emphasising the urgent need for research to better characterize Zika virus infection to respond to this public health emergency.
http://reliefweb.int/report/world/zi...a-october-2016
REPORT
from World Health Organization Published on 26 Oct 2016 —View Original
Background
Zika virus is a growing concern – it is endemic in parts of Africa, has been reported in South East Asia and is becoming established in the Americas and Caribbean. Since its detection in Brazil in 2015, it has emerged as a major public health challenge in the Americas. As of 16 June 20161, 60 countries and territories report continuing mosquito-borne transmission of which:
- 46 countries are experiencing a first outbreak of Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitos.
- 14 countries have reported evidence of Zika virus transmission between 2007 and 2014, with ongoing transmission.
The wide geographical range of the mosquito vector of the virus and the emerging complications of infection call for a global response. Based on the advice of the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Director-General declared the clusters of microcephaly cases and the other neurological disorders in endemic areas as constituting a public health emergency of international concern on 1 February 2016.
Further to this declaration, WHO activated an emergency Incident Management System to coordinate the international response. This has included the development of a global Zika Strategic Response Plan2 encompassing surveillance, response activities and emphasising the urgent need for research to better characterize Zika virus infection to respond to this public health emergency.
http://reliefweb.int/report/world/zi...a-october-2016