Highlights
ZIKA VIRUS: WHO presented a response plan for $56 million to support countries in their care for people affected by ZIKA. The plan focuses on surveillance, response, and research in order to prevent further transmission, informing people of the risks associated with the virus, and development of a vaccine.
EL NIÑO PHENOMENON: Four departments in Bolivia have declared a state of emergency for events associated with El Niño. Some 200,000 people are affected. The Director of Operations for OCHA, John Ging, urged the international community to maintain support for Latin American countries facing the devastating impacts of El Nino after his visit to Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Haiti.
Zika virus
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
The World Health Organization (WHO) presented a Strategic Response Framework and Joint Operations Plan for Zika on 15 February, seeking US$56 million for its implementation.
The plan aims to halt the spread of the virus as well as the deformities and neurologic disorders that have been linked to Zika. WHO has allocated emergency funds to finance the initial operations included in the strategy. Of the amount requested, US$25 million will be for the Americas regional office, which assists countries throughout the continent, and $31 million for organizations working with directly with the virus. The Operations Plan focuses on epidemiological surveillance, risk communication, care for those affected by associated complications such as Guillian Barre syndrome, vector control and research, including vaccines. Given the rapid spread of Zika,
WHO declared an international health emergency on 1 February. On 18 February, the World Bank announced that it would make available US$150 million to support Latin American and Caribbean countries affected by the Zika outbreak. For more information on Zika visit: http://bit.ly/1Uyz70T