WHO Holds Emergency Meeting On Zika; U.S. President Obama, Brazil President Rousseff Discuss Outbreak; U.S. Senate Health Committee To Hold Hearing On Disease

Agence France-Presse: WHO mulls declaring global health emergency over Zika
“World Health Organization experts began emergency talks Monday on whether a Zika virus outbreak suspected of causing a surge in serious birth defects in South America should be declared a global health emergency…” (Larson, 2/1).

Agence France-Presse: Brazil’s Rousseff vows to win Zika ‘war’
“Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff vowed to ‘win the war’ against the Zika virus, but some experts criticized her government’s response and warned the Olympics could fuel the disease’s spread…” (Ramos, 1/29).

Associated Press: The Latest: Obama, Brazil’s Rousseff discuss spread of Zika
“…In a telephone conversation Friday, the leaders agreed on the importance of working together to spearhead research and speed development of vaccines and other technologies to control the mosquito-borne virus. They also agreed to prioritize building national, regional, and global networks to fight the threat from infectious diseases more broadly…” (1/29).

Bloomberg Business: Brazil’s President Pledges to Win ‘War’ Against Spread of Zika
“…The government, which is mobilizing troops from the three branches of the armed forces, would spare no cost to combat the disease, President Dilma Rousseff said Friday, after meeting with governors from five states to coordinate efforts…” (Edgerton/Khodr, 1/29).

The Hill: Senate to hold hearing on Zika virus
“The Senate Health Committee is planning to hold a hearing on the Zika virus amid increasing concern from lawmakers about a potential U.S. outbreak. ‘Senator [Patty] Murray and I will very soon hold a hearing to gain a better understanding of how the Congress can support efforts to prevent further spread of the virus and protect families from being affected,’ Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who chairs the panel, said in a statement…” (Carney, 1/29).

NPR: Zika Virus Prompts Emergency Meeting Of The World Health Organization
“WHO Director General Margaret Chan called the meeting for Monday in Geneva to decide whether the Zika virus outbreak rises to a public health emergency that would be of international concern…” (Beaubien, 2/1).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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