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WHO Declares Emergency Over Microcephaly — Condition Possibly Linked To Zika Virus
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Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that's spreading rapidly in Latin America and the Caribbean, could be connected to thousands of reported cases of microcephaly in Brazil — an awful condition that results in babies born with brain damage and unusually small heads.
Monday Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, declared the microcephaly outbreak a global emergency.
Guests
Carey Goldberg, co-host of WBUR's CommonHealth blog. She tweets @commonhealth.
Dr. Davidson Hamer, professor of global health and medicine at the Boston University School of Public Health. He's also school of medicine director at Boston Medical Center's travel clinic.
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BBC: Zika-Linked Condition: WHO Declares Global Emergency
- "A disease linked to the Zika virus in Latin America poses a global public health emergency requiring a united response, says the World Health Organization."
The New York Times: Microcephaly, Spotlighted By Zika Virus, Has Long Afflicted And Mystified
- "The images pouring out of Brazil are haunting: struggling newborns with misshapen heads, cradled by mothers who desperately want to know whether their babies will ever walk or talk."
Slate: Could Climate Change Amplify The Zika Outbreak?
- "As the Zika virus spreads throughout Latin America, alarm bells are blaring and questions are flying: How dangerous is this disease? Could it reach the United States and spread here? How bad would it be?"
This segment aired on February 1, 2016.