This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/feb/11/live-qa-whats-the-best-way-to-tackle-zika
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Live Q&A: What's the best way to tackle Zika? | Live Q&A: What's the best way to tackle Zika? |
| (6 days later) | |
| For the expectant mothers of Recife, in Pernambuco state Brazil, the city at the heart of the Zika virus epidemic, trips to the hospital to check on their unborn children have become an ordeal. | For the expectant mothers of Recife, in Pernambuco state Brazil, the city at the heart of the Zika virus epidemic, trips to the hospital to check on their unborn children have become an ordeal. |
| A third of Brazil’s 3,893 Zika virus cases recorded by January 2020 have been found in Pernambuco. The mosquito-born disease causes fever, joint pain and rashes, as well as microcephaly, a condition which affects brain development and head size of babies. | A third of Brazil’s 3,893 Zika virus cases recorded by January 2020 have been found in Pernambuco. The mosquito-born disease causes fever, joint pain and rashes, as well as microcephaly, a condition which affects brain development and head size of babies. |
| Recife resident Gleyse Kelly told the Guardian last month that she had discovered that her unborn daughter had an abnormally small head when she was seven months pregnant. “It was devastating,” she said. “But we had no time to react.” Her daughter Maria was born the next day. | Recife resident Gleyse Kelly told the Guardian last month that she had discovered that her unborn daughter had an abnormally small head when she was seven months pregnant. “It was devastating,” she said. “But we had no time to react.” Her daughter Maria was born the next day. |
| Related: Zika virus: pesticides are not a long-term solution says leading entomologist | Related: Zika virus: pesticides are not a long-term solution says leading entomologist |
| The Zika virus was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation on 1 February.Across Latin America, governments have reacted to the virus with dramatic measures. In El Salvador, a country with restrictive laws on abortion, the government told its citizens to avoid getting pregnant until 2018. | The Zika virus was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organisation on 1 February.Across Latin America, governments have reacted to the virus with dramatic measures. In El Salvador, a country with restrictive laws on abortion, the government told its citizens to avoid getting pregnant until 2018. |
| Now as the virus spreads to the US and Europe, a sense of urgency has grown in the international community. Pharmaceutical companies are reportedly working to develop a vaccine. | Now as the virus spreads to the US and Europe, a sense of urgency has grown in the international community. Pharmaceutical companies are reportedly working to develop a vaccine. |
| Elsewhere, scientists have been searching for an answer to why the virus was able to spread so far, so quickly; with some pointing to the impact of climate change. In 2014, only 150 cases were recorded in the whole of Brazil. | Elsewhere, scientists have been searching for an answer to why the virus was able to spread so far, so quickly; with some pointing to the impact of climate change. In 2014, only 150 cases were recorded in the whole of Brazil. |
| How do we overcome this disease? Would it help to swamp Zika-infected areas with pesticides, or would that make things worse? Should we simply look to eradicate mosquitos altogether? | How do we overcome this disease? Would it help to swamp Zika-infected areas with pesticides, or would that make things worse? Should we simply look to eradicate mosquitos altogether? |
| Join a panel of experts on Thursday 18 February from 1pm GMT to discuss these questions and more. | Join a panel of experts on Thursday 18 February from 1pm GMT to discuss these questions and more. |
| The panel | |
| Peter Mills, head of Technical Advisory Services, Malaria Consortium, London, UK @PeteMills4 @fightingmalariaPeter coordinates the work of Malaria Consortium’s global team of experts in disease control | |
| João Nunes, lecturer in International Relations, University of York, York, UK @Dr_JoaoNunes @UniOfYorkJoão writes on neglected issues in global health, community-driven responses and Brazilian health policy | |
| Jo Lines, reader in Vector Biology and Malaria Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK Jo has been researching technologies for mosquito control, especially treated nets for malaria control for three decades. He has also worked for the World Health Organisation | |
| More to be announced |