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Standardized Research Protocols for Zika

CONSISE and Zika

CONSISE and the Institut Pasteur were asked to draft six standardized research protocols for Zika. Our expertise in rapidly drafting such technical documents, summoning and incorporating technical input have allowed us to support efforts to harmonize epidemiologic and clinical research ... Read more

Utah Zika Patient May Have Infected Caregiver

U.S. health officials are investigating the mysterious case of a person in Utah who contracted Zika while caring for an elderly man infected with the virus who died last month. Federal and state health officials said on Monday it is ... Read more

Dispelling rumours around Zika and complications

-Most symptoms of Zika virus disease are different from those of seasonal flu -There is no specific repellent that works better against the Aedes mosquito -No evidence that vaccines cause microcephaly in babies -No evidence that pyriproxyfen insecticide causes microcephaly ... Read more

A draft of the interim laboratory algorithm developed by our Zika working group will be posted soon for consideration of use in Zika research studies.

Zika CRFs are currently being revised and reviewed in light of recently updated information and revised case definitions. Please check this page regularly for the most up to date versions of the CRFs.

PAHO guidance - Zika Ethics Consultation

PAHO have just released their document on their Ethics Guidance on Key Issues raised by the Outbreak. Ethical duties in the domains of health care delivery, public health activity, and research are explained. A Spanish version will be published next week.

Zika virus strains available from UK National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses

The UK National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses have a Ugandan strain of Zika virus available for international research. Virus culture and RNA formats are available. See more information here. They will soon have a strain isolated from Puerto Rico available too.

Updated Zika Virus CRFs now available!

Updated ISARIC/PREPARE Case Report Forms for Zika Virus (version 5.2) are now available. Updates include changes to ensure that no data field is left blank and implementation of recommendations from colleagues.

Access the English versions

We have also finalised the Spanish translations for Version 5.2.

Access the Spanish versions

Portuguese and French translations will be available shortly. Please let us know if you have any comments or concerns about these CRFs.

Zika virus and potential complications - WHO questions and answers

The WHO have created a list of common questions and answers (updated 10 March) with an accompanying video.

WHO statement on the 2nd meeting of IHR Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations

The second meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC) convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR 2005) regarding clusters of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders in some areas affected by Zika virus was held by teleconference on 8 March 2016, from 13:00 to 16:45 Central European Time.

The Lancet: Zika virus might cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, according to new evidence from French Polynesia

This is the first study providing evidence for Zika virus infection causing Guillain-Barré syndrome. Because Zika virus is spreading rapidly across the Americas, at risk countries need to prepare for adequate intensive care beds capacity to manage patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome. See the article here and an editorial here.

The High Stakes of Fighting Zika: the Virus Challenging Public Health Systems

The African Society of Laboratory Medicine weighs in on diagnostic capacity in Africa, and the need for a more readily accessible test for Zika virus.

CDC encourages following guidance to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus

Because these new reports suggest sexual transmission may be a more likely means of transmission for Zika virus than previously considered, CDC issued a Health Advisory Notice (HAN) today to underscore the importance of adhering to the interim guidance published on February 5.

Global scientific community commits to sharing data on Zika (English)

Thirty-three leading global health bodies including academic journals, NGOs, research funders and institutes, have committed to sharing data and results relevant to the current Zika crisis and future public health emergencies as rapidly and openly as possible.

 State of knowledge on Zika virus for an adequate laboratory response (English)

A review of ZIKV diagnostics was completed yesterday, and has already been published online by the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, as part of their ZIKA OPEN publishing scheme. The review is available here.

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