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Between 18 March and 1 April 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of China notified WHO of 8 additional imported cases of yellow fever.View the full article

CDC Adds Fiji to Zika Virus Caution Listby MAGGIE FOX The Zika virus is not only spreading across the Americas — it has reached the South Pacific, also, and Fiji is the latest country to report the virus locally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added Fiji on Monday to its list of countries that pregnant women should avoid because mosquitoes there are carrying the virus. Last week, the CDC added the island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia to that list. "Travelers to areas with cases of Zika virus infection are at risk of being infected with the Zika virus," the CDC said in its notice. "Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters. They also bite at night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites." U.S. travelers have brought Zika home with them and the CDC's documentedseveral cases of sexual transmission of the virus. In areas where Aedes aegypti mosquitoes circulate, such as Florida and South Texas, small outbreaks of Zika are likely, the CDC said. But most experts think air conditioning and window screens will keep the virus from spreading explosively in the U.S. in the same way it has in Brazil and Central America. "To help stop the spread of Zika, travelers should use insect repellent for three weeks after travel to prevent mosquito bites," the CDC advised. Zika is believed to cause often severe birth defects and a paralyzing conditioncalled Guillain-Barre syndrome, but most people who get it won't even know. "People who do have symptoms have reported fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes," the CDC said. CDC advises Zika patients to take acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain. "Do not take aspirin, products containing aspirin, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen," CDC advises. That's because Zika is a close relative of dengue virus, and people infected with dengue who take aspirin or other NSAIDs can hemorrhage. "Travelers to areas with Zika should monitor for symptoms or sickness upon return. If they become sick, they should tell their healthcare professional when and where they have traveled." Pregnant women whose male partner has traveled to a Zika-affected area should use condoms for the entire pregnancy, CDC advises. http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/cdc-adds-fiji-zika-virus-caution-list-n550541

Media Statement For Immediate Release Monday, April 4, 2016 Contact: CDC Media Relations 404-639-3286 CDC Adds Fiji to Interim Travel Guidance Related to Zika Virus CDC is working with other public health officials to monitor for ongoing Zika virus‎ transmission. Today, CDC posted a Zika virus travel notice for Fiji. CDC has issued travel notices (level 2, “practice enhanced precautions”) for people traveling to destinations with Zika. For a full list of affected countries/regions, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information. As more information becomes available, CDC’s travel notices will be updated. Travelers to areas with cases of Zika virus infection are at risk of being infected with the Zika virus. Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive daytime biters. They also bite at night. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika virus. The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites. Some travelers to areas with Zika will become infected while traveling but will not become sick until they return home and they might not have any symptoms. To help stop the spread of Zika, travelers should use insect repellent for three weeks after travel to prevent mosquito bites. Some people who are infected do not have any symptoms. People who do have symptoms have reported fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. The sickness is usually mild with symptoms that last from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and the number of deaths is low. Travelers to areas with Zika should monitor for symptoms or sickness upon return. If they become sick, they should tell their healthcare professional when and where they have traveled. CDC has received reports of Zika virus being spread by sexual contact with sick returning travelers. Until more is known, CDC continues to recommend that pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant take the following precautions. Pregnant women · Should not travel to any area with Zika. · If you must travel to or live in one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. · If you have a male partner who lives in or has traveled to an area with Zika, either use condoms, the right way, every time you have sex or do not have sex during your pregnancy. Women trying to get pregnant · Before you or your male partner travel, talk to your healthcare provider about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection. · You and your male partner should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is very likely triggered by Zika in a small proportion of infections, much as it is after a variety of other infections. CDC is working with Brazil to study the possibility of a link between Zika and GBS. For more information on Zika, visit www.cdc.gov/zika. ### U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC is committed to respond to America’s most pressing health challenges.

On 24 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for France notified PAHO/WHO of a foetus with concomitant microcephaly and Zika virus infection in Martinique.View the full article

On 15 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Panama informed PAHO/WHO of a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with concomitant Zika virus infection.View the full article

On 18 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Panama notified PAHO/WHO of a newborn with concomitant microcephaly, occipital encephalocele and Zika virus infection.View the full article

Between 15 and 16 March 2016, PAHO/WHO was notified of cases of Zika virus infection in Dominica and Cuba.View the full article

On 13 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of China notified WHO of an imported case of yellow fever virus infection.View the full article

On 18 March 2016, the Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region notified WHO of a confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.View the full article

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204690/1/zikasitrep_24Mar2016_eng.pdf?ua=1

On 15 March 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 1 additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus.View the full article

On 18 March 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 29 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 11 deaths.View the full article

As of 9 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Togo notified WHO of the country’s first 2 cases of Lassa fever infection.View the full article

Between 10 and 16 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for Germany notified WHO/EURO of 2 cases of Lassa fever.View the full article

Between 15 and 16 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 4 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death. One of these reported cases is linked to the MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Buraidah city.View the full article

The Ministry of Health of Angola has provided WHO with an update on the ongoing outbreak of yellow fever (YF), which started on 5 December 2015 in the Viana municipality, Luanda province.View the full article

On 10 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of 2 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) with confirmed Zika virus infection. Both cases are under investigation to determine whether they meet the Brighton Collaboration case definition for GBS.View the full article

Between 13 and 14 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 4 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. One of these reported cases is linked to the MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Buraidah city.View the full article

Between 11 and 12 March 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 6 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Three of these reported cases are asymptomatic and linked to the MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Buraidah city.View the full article

WHO Media Advisory/7 18 March 2016 INVITATION TO A VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE Update on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations WHAT: WHO Virtual Press Conference The Director- General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Margaret Chan, will update on the recent work of the Organization on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations. WHO has recently convened several expert meetings to identify gaps in knowledge about Zika virus, potentially related complications, effective interventions, and areas of needed research and technologies. The panels have also identified partners and collaborators in the response to Zika virus who are undertaking new initiatives and studies to maximize the impact of public health action. Dr Chan will highlight findings from the meetings and next steps in the fight against Zika. WHERE: India Room, WHO Headquarters WHEN: Tuesday, 22 March 2016, at 16:00 CET, 15:00 GMT Geneva-based journalists may participate in the India Room at WHO Headquarters. Journalists outside Geneva may dial in with the numbers listed below. Shortly after the press conference, an audio file will be sent to journalists and a transcript will be posted the following day. How to access the WHO Virtual Press Conference – 22 MARCH 2016 Please try to call in at least 10 minutes before the conference begins in order to be registered correctly. From the list below, please use the number closest to you. If you have problems with a number, try the toll number from a neighbouring country or call Switzerland: +41 22 580 5970, or France +33 1 70750705, or United States +1 855 402 7766. You can also use a VoIP programme such as Skype to call the US toll-free: +1 855 402 7766 On connecting, type PIN code: 50066173# on your telephone keypad and then record your name and media outlet and then press again the # key. To ask a question during the question and answer session, registered participants should type 01 on their telephone keypad, this will place you in the queue to ask questions. International access numbers COUNTRYTOLL-FREETOLLArgentina +541152526531Australia +61291011917Austria +4319280492Belgium +3211500307Brazil +551138788007Canada +14162164186China 4006815483Czech Rep +420225439711Denmark +4535445572Finland +358981710496Estonia +3726868836France 0805110449 +33170750705Germany 08006270715 +4969222229043Hong Kong +85230773565Hungary +3612354718India +912261875155Ireland +35314475417Italy +390236013806Japan +81344556490Luxembourg +35227300157Malaysia 1800816893 Mexico 018002822715 Netherlands +31107137273Norway +4723500249Peru +5117075734Poland +48225839013Russia +74956469303Saudi Arabia 8008143582 Singapore +6564298337South Africa +27216724108South Korea 00308123559 Spain +34911140084Sweden +46850556469Switzerland0800005200+41225805970Turkey +902123755118UAE800035704060 United Kingdom +442030092452USA18554027766

https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/ZikaPPTFinalWeb.pdf

Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been confirmed to carry Zika in the U.S. and Aedes albopictus have not yet been confirmed, but are a possible threat in the U.S NYS is monitoring for northward spread of potential Zika outbreaks due to Aedes albopictus. The following regions will be included in the action plan target region. KEEPING NEW YORKERS SAFE & INFORMED Zika is a virus transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito in South and Central America. Although Aedes aegypti mosquitos are not present in New York, a related species named Aedes albopictus is active in the downstate region and could potentially carry Zika. The Governor's 6-point plan proactively limits the potential for an outbreak if this type of Aedes mosquito begins transmitting Zika. http://www.ny.gov/programs/6-step-new-york-state-zika-action-plan