Zika virus [to 16 April 2016]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/

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Zika situation report
14 April 2016
Zika virus, Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome
Read the full situation report
Summary
:: From 1 January 2007 to 13 April 2016, Zika virus transmission was documented in a total of 64 countries and territories.

:: Mosquito-borne transmission:
*42 countries are experiencing a first outbreak of Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitoes.
*17 countries have reported evidence of Zika virus transmission prior to 2015, with or without ongoing transmission or have reported an outbreak since 2015 that is now over.

:: Person-to-person transmission:
*Six countries have now reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, other than mosquito-borne transmission (Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United States of America).

:: In the week to the 13 April, two additional countries have reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission: Belize and Saint Lucia.

:: Microcephaly and other fetal malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported in six countries (Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, French Polynesia, Martinique and Panama). Two additional cases, each linked to a stay in Brazil, were detected in Slovenia and the United States of America.

:: In the context of Zika virus circulation, 13 countries and territories worldwide have reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or laboratory confirmation of a Zika virus infection among GBS cases.

:: Based on a growing body of research, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS.

:: The global prevention and control strategy launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Strategic Response Framework encompasses surveillance, response activities and research. This situation report is organized under those headings.

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 12 April 2016 Zika virus infection – Viet Nam
:: 9 April 2016 Microcephaly – France – Martinique

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Zika Open [to 16 April 2016]
[Bulletin of the World Health Organization]
:: All papers available here
No new papers identified in the last week

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CDC/ACIP [to 16 April 2016]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2016
Transcript for CDC Telebriefing: Zika Virus Update – 4-13-2016

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016
CDC Adds Saint Lucia to Interim Travel Guidance Related to Zika Virus – Media Statement

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016
CDC Concludes Zika Causes Microcephaly and Other Birth Defects
Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded, after careful review of existing evidence, that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. In the report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the CDC authors describe a rigorous weighing of evidence using established scientific criteria.

“This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly. We are also launching further studies to determine whether children who have microcephaly born to mothers infected by the Zika virus is the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems,” said Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., director of the CDC. “We’ve now confirmed what mounting evidence has suggested, affirming our early guidance to pregnant women and their partners to take steps to avoid Zika infection and to health care professionals who are talking to patients every day. We are working to do everything possible to protect the American public.”

Background
The report notes that no single piece of evidence provides conclusive proof that Zika virus infection is a cause of microcephaly and other fetal brain defects. Rather, increasing evidence from a number of recently published studies and a careful evaluation using established scientific criteria supports the authors’ conclusions.
The finding that Zika virus infection can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects means that a woman who is infected with Zika during pregnancy has an increased risk of having a baby with these health problems. It does not mean, however, that all women who have Zika virus infection during pregnancy will have babies with problems. As has been seen during the current Zika outbreak, some infected women have delivered babies that appear to be healthy.

Establishing this causal relationship between Zika and fetal brain defects is an important step in driving additional prevention efforts, focusing research activities, and reinforcing the need for direct communication about the risks of Zika. While one important question about causality has been answered, many questions remain. Answering these will be the focus of ongoing research to help improve prevention efforts, which ultimately may help reduce the effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

At this time, CDC is not changing its current guidance as a result of this finding. Pregnant women should continue to avoid travel to areas where Zika is actively spreading. If a pregnant woman travels to or lives in an area with active Zika virus transmission, she should talk with her healthcare provider and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus. We also continue to encourage women and their partners in areas with active Zika transmission to engage in pregnancy planning and counseling with their health care providers so that they know the risks and the ways to mitigate them.

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MMWR April 15, 2016 / Vol. 65 / No. 14
:: Male-to-Male Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus — Texas, January 2016
:: Survey of Blood Collection Centers and Implementation of Guidance for Prevention of Transfusion-Transmitted Zika Virus Infection — Puerto Rico, 2016

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USAID [to 16 April 2016]
http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases
April 13, 2016
USAID Announces $30 Million Grand Challenge to Combat Zika and Future Disease Threats
Call for ideas now open; initial focus on improved tools to prevent and respond to Zika
Today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched Combating Zika and Future Threats: A Grand Challenge for Development, calling innovators around the world to submit groundbreaking ideas to enhance our ability to respond to the current Zika outbreak and generate cutting-edge technologies and approaches that better prepare the world to address the disease threats of tomorrow.