(1 Feb 2016) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY
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AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
Geneva - 1 February 2016
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Margaret Chan, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General:
"In assessing the level of threat, the 18 experts and advisors looked in particular at the strong association in time and in space between infection with the Zika virus and a rise in detected cases of congenital malformations and neurological complications. The experts agree that a causal relationship between the Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven. All agree on the urgent need to coordinate international efforts to investigate and understand this relationship better. The experts also considered patterns of recent spread and the broad geographical distribution of mosquito species that can transmit the virus, the lack of vaccines, and rapid and reliable diagnostic tests, and the absence of population immunity in newly affected countries, were cited as further causes for concern. After a review of the evidence, the committee advised that the causes of microcephaly and other neurological complications constitute an extraordinary event and a public health threat to other parts of the world. In their view, a coordinated international response is needed to minimise the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international spread. Members of the committee agree that the situation meets the conditions for a public health emergency of international concern."
STORYLINE:
The World Health Organisation announced on Monday that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an "extraordinary event" that merits being declared an international emergency.
The agency convened an emergency meeting of independent experts on Monday to assess the outbreak after noting a suspicious link between Zika's arrival in Brazil last year and a surge in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads.
Although WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said there was no definitive proof that the Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, is responsible for the birth defects, she acknowledged on Thursday that "the level of alarm is extremely high".
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