Associated Press: Some experts contend Brazil is exaggerating Zika crisis “Often drowned out by the dire warnings and fear surrounding Zika, some medical professionals are saying that Brazil and international health officials have prematurely declared a link between the virus and what appears to be a surge in birth defects.…

The Guardian: A global defense system to fight virus threats is urgently needed Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, and Trevor Mundel, president of the global health division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “…The world needs … systems to protect against epidemic and pandemic diseases. We need…

WHO: Bulletin of the World Health Organization The March 2016 WHO Bulletin includes news, research, and policy articles on various topics, including adolescent sexual and reproductive health, Zika virus in Brazil, and global nutrition and health (March 2016).

Washington Post: Zika epidemic uncovers Brazil’s hidden birth-defect problem “…Many doctors, though, say that the jump [in Brazil’s reports of microcephaly cases] is largely illusory — based on massive underreporting of microcephaly and other birth defects in Brazil. What’s more, this poor record-keeping reflects much larger public health problems here:…

Nature: Specter of Ebola haunts Zika response “Public health workers are still struggling to stamp out the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. But the lessons learned from that outbreak — which exposed major flaws in the global public health system — are shaping the escalating international response to the spread…

U.S. News & World Report: Don’t Use Ebola Funds to Fight Zika Laurie Garrett, senior fellow for global health, and Gabriella Meltzer, research associate for global health, both at the Council on Foreign Relations “…[U.S. President Barack] Obama, who requested $1.9 billion in anti-Zika emergency supplemental funds last week, has…

News outlets discuss the findings of several studies examining the possible association between Zika and neurological defects and syndromes. The Atlantic: Toward an Understanding of Zika’s Neurological Dangers “…A new study published Friday in Cell Stem Cell shows how Zika affects neural stem cells, which appear to be particularly vulnerable…

The Hill: CDC chief to GOP: Zika funding ‘urgently needed’ “Top federal health officials want Congress to know they urgently need more money to fight the Zika virus — and that time is running out. In media interviews and briefings on Thursday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director…

CQ HealthBeat: Zika Supplemental Pressure; House Budget Waits “…House budget planners have developed a fiscal 2017 budget resolution but a vote on the measure has been deferred until next month (listen to CQ podcast on delay details). A separate fiscal 2016 supplemental spending bill seeking funds for a Zika virus…

The Hill: Clinton: Congress must approve Zika funding “Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is slamming Congress for ignoring a request from President Obama for $1.8 billion to fight the Zika virus. ‘The president asked for this funding over a month ago, but on Saturday, Congress will begin a two-week break…