IASC PARTNERS MEETING ON ZIKA AND POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS – April 27th 2016

Draft Summary Record and Action Points – key areas:
• There are more cases in 3 WHO regions and an increasing consensus around the evidence of the causality in cases of microcephally, GBS and Zika virus cases, causing real tragedies in the families affected.
• This will lead to a new strategy with accent on vector control, support, advice and counselling to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age, support to young children presenting neurological diseases, rapid diagnostic tools development.
• Some other anticipated adjustments include health system preparedness to cope with young children presenting neurological diseases, and research and development around diagnostics
• Research priority document: WHO is finalizing a research priority document. This document highlights three areas of research that needs to be prioritized: 1) c characteristics of the diseases and risk complication; 2) Prevention and control; 3) Health system and social science
• Following the earthquake in Ecuador, efforts have been made to integrate Zika prevention and protection programming as the locus of the tremor was in the same areas affected by Zika and other vector borne diseases.

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