Last Friday, the CDC hosted more than 300 government officials, health experts and other professionals in Atlanta to discuss preparations for the likely transmission of mosquito-borne Zika virus in parts of the continental U.S.
The aim of the Zika Action Plan Summit was to educate officials, detect gaps in preparation and deliver technical support and recommendations to create an effective groundwork for the nation's response to potential active Zika transmission.
"The mosquitoes that carry Zika virus are already active in U.S. territories, hundreds of travelers with Zika have already returned to the continental U.S., and we could well see clusters of Zika virus in the continental U.S. in the coming months," said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD. "Urgent action is needed, especially to minimize the risk of exposure during pregnancy. Everyone has a role to play. With federal support, state and local leaders and their community partners will develop a comprehensive action plan to fight Zika in their communities."
The CDC recently expanded the range of the potential Zika threat to the continental U.S. The World Health Organization also confirmed an international scientific consensus that Zika is indeed connected to the birth defect mircrocephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads, and other neurological disorders like Guillain-Barré syndrome.
More articles on the Zika virus:
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Infographic:Where in the US have Zika cases been reported? [April 1 update]