INFORMATION SESSION ON ZIKA VIRUS
WHAT: Information Session on Zika virus
Zika virus is an emerging viral disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. The same mosquito also transmits chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever. The virus has been circulating since the 1950s in human populations and is found in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and most recently in the Americas. As of 23 January 2016, 21 countries and territories in the Americas were reporting local transmission of the Zika virus.
At the request of Member States’ representatives present in Geneva for the Annual WHO Executive Board Meeting (138th Session from 25-30 January 2016), THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is organizing an information session for Member States on Zika virus.
WHERE: Executive Board Room, WHO Headquarters, Geneva.
WHEN: The information session is scheduled to start at 13:00 (Geneva time) and be closed by 14:15 to allow the Executive Board meeting to go back to their agenda.
WHO:
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO
Dr Carissa Etienne, Regional-Director for the WHO Pan American Health Organization, (WHO/PAHO)
Dr Marcos Espinal, Director, Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis, WHO/PAHO
Dr J. Barbosa da Silva Junior, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health, Brazil
U.S. CDC representative (TBC).
Following the different presentations by the panellists, the floor will be opened to Member State representatives.
Journalists are welcome to attend the information briefing as observers. They will have an opportunity to ask questions at a separate media briefing just afterwards (see information on Virtual Press Conference below).
Follow WHO on Twitter (@WHO) for live tweets from the information session
Arrangements for journalists: The left gallery of the Executive Board meeting will be reserved for journalists. The Library Room is also reserved as an overflow room where journalists can watch and listen to the proceedings.
Please note also that the session is webcast and can be watched at: http://who.int/mediacentre/events/2016/webstreaming/eb138/en/
Virtual Press Conference (VPC) on Zika virus
WHAT: Journalists are invited to a Virtual Press Conference on Zika virus situation, after the close of the Executive Board information session.
WHEN: Virtual Press Briefing on Thursday 28 January 2016, at 15:00 (Geneva time)
WHERE: Geneva-based journalists may participate in the Library Room at WHO Headquarters. Journalists outside Geneva may dial -in using the numbers listed below.
WHO:
Dr Marcos Espinal, Director, Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis, WHO/PAHO.
Dr Sylvie Briand, Director Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases, WHO.
Journalists who wish to attend the information session and the VPC and who are not already accredited with the United Nations in Geneva should contact the media team and get to WHO an hour early in order to obtain a media badge
The audio file of the VPC will be sent to the WHO media list and posted immediately after the press briefing. A written transcript of the VPC will also be available.
Follow WHO on Twitter (@WHO) for live tweets from the virtual press conference
How to access the WHO Virtual Press Conference – 28 January 2016
Please try to call in at least 10 minutes before the conference begins in order to be registered correctly. From the list below, please use the number closest to you. If you have problems with a number, try the toll number from a neighbouring country or call:
Switzerland: +41 22 580 5970
France +33 170 750 705
United States +1 855 402 7766.
You can also use a VoIP programme such as Skype to call the US toll-free: +1 855 402 7766
On connecting, type PIN code: 19127872# on your telephone keypad and then record your name and media outlet and then press again the # key.
To ask a question during the question and answer session, registered participants should type 01 on their telephone keypad, this will place you in the queue to ask questions
International access numbers
COUNTRY
TOLL-FREE
TOLL
Argentina
+541152526531
Australia
+61291011917
Austria
+4319280492
Belgium
+3211500307
Brazil
+551138788007
Canada
+14162164186
China
4006815483
Czech Rep
+420225439711
Denmark
+4535445572
Finland
+358981710496
Estonia
+3726868836
France
0805110449
+33170750705
Germany
08006270715
+4969222229043
Hong Kong
+85230773565
Hungary
+3612354718
Iceland
8007415
India
+912261875155
Ireland
+35314475417
Italy
+390236013806
Japan
+81344556490
Luxembourg
+35227300157
Malaysia
1800816893
Mexico
018002822715
Netherlands
+31107137273
Norway
+4723500249
Poland
+48225839013
Russia
+74956469303
Saudi Arabia
8008143582
Singapore
+6564298337
South Africa
+27216724108
South Korea
00308123559
Spain
+34911140084
Sweden
+46850556469
Switzerland
0800005200
+41225805970
Turkey
+902123755118
UAE
800035704060
United Kingdom
+442030092452
USA
18554027766
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).