Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a disease linked to the Zika Virus as a global public health emergency. Zika is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. The World Health Organization declaring a health emergency means that its 194 member states must now work together to investigate the cause of the problem. This is fourth emergency to be declared since the system was established in 2005. African Dialogue’s Benjamin Moshatama spoke Professor Lucille Bloomberg, National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ Deputy-Director, Head of Division, and Head of Travel Health, Dr Sarah Barber, World Health Organisation representative based in South Africa and Dr Thomas Nyirenda: South-South Networking and Capacity Development Manager at the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.
