Zika virus [to 9 July 2016]
Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)
http://www.who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/en/

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Zika situation report – 7 July 2016
Full report: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/246180/1/zikasitrep7Jul16-eng.pdf?ua=1

Summary
[Excerpt]
:: WHO and partners have established a definition of what constitutes an outbreak, endemic transmission, and the interruption of vector-borne transmission in order to better characterize the level of transmission of Zika virus infection (Table 1, Fig. 2). In addition, this will facilitate public health recommendations for residents and travellers. Based on these definitions, countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission were reclassified.

:: As of 6 July 2016, 65 countries and territories (Fig. 1, Table 1) have reported evidence of vector-borne Zika virus transmission since 2007 (62 of these countries and territories have reported evidence of vector-borne Zika virus transmission since 2015):
…48 countries and territories with a first reported outbreak from 2015 onwards (Table 1).
…Four countries are classified as having possible endemic transmission or have reported evidence of local vector-borne Zika infections in 2016.
…13 countries and territories have reported evidence of local vector-borne Zika infections in or before 2015, but without documentation of cases in 2016, or with outbreak terminated.

:: Guinea-Bissau is the latest country to report mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission.

:: Eleven countries have reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, probably via a sexual route (Table 2). Spain is the latest country to report Zika infection through person-to-person transmission.

:: As of 6 July 2016, microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported by 13 countries or territories. Three of those countries reported microcephaly cases born from mothers with a recent travel history to Zika-affected countries in Latin America (Table 3).

:: As of 6 July, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) reported seven live-born infants with birth defects and five pregnancy losses with birth defects with laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection.

:: In the context of Zika virus circulation, 15 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 (Table 4).

:: Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS…

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Zika Open [to 9 July 2016]
[Bulletin of the World Health Organization]
:: All papers available here
Kinetics of Zika virus persistence in semen
– Ralph MHG Huits, Birgit De Smet, Kevin K Ariën, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Bouke C de Jong, Emmanuel Bottieau & Lieselotte Cnops
Posted: 6 July 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.181370

Non-vector transmission of flaviviruses, with implications for the Zika virus
– Poojan Shrestha, Gail Carson & Peter Horby
Posted: 6 July 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.17768

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CDC/ACIP [to 9 July 2016]
http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
Media Statement
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Environmental Protection Agency Urge Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to Consider Aerial Spraying as Part of Integrated Mosquito Control to Reduce Zika-Associated Birth Defects
Acting on data from multiple scientific studies in Puerto Rico that show that Zika is spreading rapidly and is a major risk to pregnant women and their fetuses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend the people and the government of Puerto Rico consider implementing aerial spraying as part of an integrated mosquito control program.

“Multiple independent data sources indicate that at current trends thousands of pregnant women in Puerto Rico will catch Zika,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “The continental United States has been using aerial spraying for decades to reduce mosquito populations, and we urge the people of Puerto Rico to consider using the same proven and safe tactic.”

“Our recommendations for mosquito control in Puerto Rico are the same as our recommendations for mosquito control elsewhere in the United States—integrated pest management,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “An integrated and comprehensive approach includes reducing places where mosquitoes lay eggs, keeping them out of houses, and reducing the populations of both larval and adult mosquitoes by treating areas with EPA-approved products. We strongly encourage the people of Puerto Rico to consider aerial spraying as this approach is safe for people and a proven way of controlling the spread of mosquitoes that transmit diseases from Zika to dengue to chikungunya.”…

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UNESCO [to 9 July 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
05 July 2016
Inform, Engage, Investigate: Lessons Learned from Zika Outbreak
Inaccurate communications, isolated populations and sensationalist coverage acutely exacerbate risks during crisis and disaster situations. In such sensitive contexts, and especially in health-related emergencies, journalists must impart populations with accurate news and verified information to prevent misinformation and rumors which could result in fatal choices.

The core principles of media, such as diversity of sources, editorial independence and quality coverage, must be emergency-proof. On this basis, UNESCO is organizing a two-day workshop entitled “Inform, Engage, Investigate: Media and humanitarians in crisis situations – Lessons learned from Zika outbreak”, which will be held in Panama City, Panama from 14 to 15 July 2016 with participation of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO)…