WHO Releases Report on Research and Development Related to Zika Virus Therapies

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first situation report for the public health emergency announced after a spike in cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Americas. These cases are strongly suspected to be linked to Zika virus. WHO is currently mapping existing research and development for Zika virus in order to prioritize actions that need to be taken in order to fast-track medical products and approaches.

The key points from the report are as follows:

An Emergency Committee was convened by the director-general under the International Health Regulations (2005) on Feb. 1, 2016. Following the advice of the Committee, the Director-General announced the recent cluster of microcephaly and other neurologic disorders reported in Brazil to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The Emergency Committee agreed that a causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven. All experts agreed on the urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and understand this relationship better.

Between January 2014 and Feb. 5, 2016, a total of 33 countries have reported autochthonous circulation of Zika virus. There is also indirect evidence of local transmission in 6 additional countries.

The geographical distribution of Zika virus has been steadily increasing since it was first detected in the Americas in 2015. Further spread to countries within the geographical range of competent disease vectors - Aedes mosquitoes - is considered likely.

Seven countries have reported an increase in the incidence of cases of microcephaly and/or Guillain-Barré syndrome concomitantly with a Zika virus outbreak.

The global prevention and control strategy launched by WHO is based on surveillance, response activities, and research.

Source: WHO