GENEVA / ZIKA UPDATE

The World health Organization said there are increasing links between the Zika virus and several birth defects. WHO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:13
• Production Date: 8 March 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: MARGARET CHAN
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: DISEASE CONTROL
• Geographic Subject: BRAZIL
• MAMS Id: 1579183
• Parent Id: 1579183
• Alternate Title: unifeed160308e

Description

STORY: GENEVA / ZIKA UPDATE
TRT: 02:13
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 8 MARCH 2016, GENEVA / RECENT

RECENT -

1. Wide shot, exterior, WHO headquarters

8 MARCH 2016, GENEVA

2. Wide shot, press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization:
“Concerning the link with foetal malformations, the virus has been detected in amniotic fluid. Evidence shows it can cross the placental barrier and infect the foetus. We can now conclude that Zika virus is neurotropic, preferentially affecting tissues in the brain and brain stem of the developing foetus. Zika has been detected in the blood, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid of foetuses following miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination of pregnancy. Microcephaly is now only one of several documented birth abnormalities associated with Zika infection during pregnancy. Grave outcomes include foetal death, placental insufficiency, foetal growth retardation, and injury to the central nervous system.”
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization:
“It is important that every country, including Brazil in this case, or especially Brazil in this case, reporting so many infections, that women should be provided with all the information to empower them to make the decision, whether they want to get pregnant or whether they want to defer pregnancy and if indeed they are already pregnant, there are other means to protect themselves from mosquito bite.”
5. Various shots, epidemiological team meeting

Storyline

The World health Organization said there are increasing links between the Zika virus and several birth defects.

Speaking to the press today (8 March) following an emergency committee meeting, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said that “evidence shows it can cross the placental barrier and infect the foetus” and that the virus has been detected in the blood, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid of foetuses following miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination of pregnancy. She said, “grave outcomes include foetal death, placental insufficiency, foetal growth retardation, and injury to the central nervous system.”

She also said that “reports and investigations from several countries strongly suggest that sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously assumed.” Zika is commonly spread by mosquitoes.

Last month the organization determined that the outbreak constitutes a global emergency.