WHO declares Zika spread a public health emergency of international concern BREAKING NEWS The World Health Organisation has declared the spread of Zika virus as a “public health emergency of international concern”. The announcement follows the first WHO-convened International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika Virus held on February 1st. The 18-person committee agreed that, although not scientifically proven as yet, a causal relationship between the virus and microcephaly is strongly suspected. The experts identified an urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and monitor the situation. In a statement, Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General, said that the recent cluster of microcephaly cases in Brazil constitutes an “extraordinary event and a public health threat to other parts of the world”. “A coordinated international response is need to improve surveillance, detection of infections, congenital malformations and neurological complications, to intensify the control of mosquito populations, and to expedite the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially during pregnancy,” Dr Chan said. The Emergency Committee stated that health services in Zika-affected areas should be prepared for potential increases in neurological syndromes and/or congential malformations. Risk communications should be enhanced to address public concerns and to improve reporting, it said. Pregnant women who have been exposed to the Zika virus should be counselled and followed for birth outcomes according to the best available information and national policies. Disinfection practices should be implemented in airports and aircraft, it recommended. As yet, the WHO has not introduced any travel or trade restrictions.

In 2015, Zika virus was reported for the first time in a number of countries in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. Past outbreaks of Zika virus infection have been reported in Africa, Asia and the Oceanic Pacific region. There have been travel-related cases of Zika virus reported in Canada in returned travellers from countries where the virus is known to circulate. There have been no reported cases of locally acquired Zika virus in Canada. For the latest updates on countries affected by Zika virus, please visit the World Health Organization’s websiteExternal link. For the latest map of confirmed cases in the Americas visit the Pan American Health Organization’s websiteExternal link.

6 things to know about the rapidly spreading Zika virus

Travelling soon? Here is what you need to know about the Zika virus. Read the full story http://www.cbc.ca/1.3422663

Global Polio Eradication Initiative > Data and monitoring > Polio this week

The year 2015 has had fewer cases in fewer places than ever before. It is more important than ever that the momentum gained thus far is maintained in 2016. In order to stop wild poliovirus in 2016, the programme’s focus is now on strengthening surveillance, keeping Africa polio-free and ending transmission in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Happy Monday everyone!

pretty_eurydice

All hooked up and nowhere to go... At least not until 6 tomorrow morning.

pretty_eurydice

The perfectly made up bed at the sleep study... Feels like a night in a hotel.