GENEVA / ZIKA RECOMMENDATIONS

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines aimed at preventing the sexual transmission of the Zika virus as growing evidence is emerging that the virus can be sexually transmitted. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:29
• Production Date: 31 May 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
• MAMS Id: 1633002
• Parent Id: 1633002
• Alternate Title: unifeed160531a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / ZIKA RECOMMENDATIONS
TRT: 01:29
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 31 MAY 2016, GENEVA SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

31 MAY 2016, GENEVA SWITZERLAND

1. Aerial shot, Palais des Nations
2. Med shot, journalists
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson, World Health Organization:
“The WHO has just updated its guidelines for the sexual transmission of the Zika virus, to take into account new evidence, and of course to reflect what we have learned about Zika this season and its complications.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson, World Health Organization:
“People should practice safer sex or abstain for at least eight weeks if they are returning from a Zika affected areas and don’t present Zika symptoms. So these are asymptomatic people, at least eight weeks. This goes for men and women. And the previous recommendations suggested at least four weeks so we’re upping from at least four weeks to at least eight weeks, and that’s for asymptomatic people, men and women.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson, World Health Organization:
“If the male partner of the couple planning a pregnancy develops Zika symptoms, and now we’re talking about symptomatic people, the period of safer sex or sex abstinence should be extended to six months. This is the time to ensure that the virus has left the body and to ensure that the virus will not be passed on to a foetus or partner.”
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Lindmeier, Spokesperson, World Health Organization:
“The guidance is to delay or consider delaying pregnancy, certainly recognising this is tough for some populations indeed.”
10. Med shots, journalists

Storyline

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines aimed at preventing the sexual transmission of the Zika virus as growing evidence is emerging that the the virus can be sexually transmitted.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said those returning from Zika affected areas should “practice safer sex or abstain for at least eight weeks” even if they do not show symptoms. This is twice as long as previous WHO recommendations. Lindmeier also said male partners showing symptoms should wait at least 6 months before they try to conceive “to ensure that the virus will not be passed on to a foetus or partner.”

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquito. People with Zika virus disease can have symptoms that can include mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine available.