ZIKA- Experts, Advocacy and a Public Health Emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus in the Americas to be a public health emergency. The Latin American Research Centre has convened a cross-disciplinary roundtable to discuss the public health, human rights, and the economic consequences of this emergency. Topics for cross-disciplinary discussion: Science: What is the Zika virus? Where does it come from, how is it transmitted and to whom? Why should we care? Clinical: What are Zika’s effects on humans? To what extent can other environmental risk factors (e.g., pollutants) be ruled out as causing such effects? Public Health: With upcoming Olympics in Brazil, are there increased risks of worldwide infection through human movement? What social, medical, and educational supports are available for affected families? Ethics: With limited access to contraceptives, abortion, and pre-natal care, what protections (i.e., legal, medical) should be in place for women who are officially being discouraged from having children until the outbreak has subsided? This discussion is FREE and OPEN to the Public! Latin American Research Centre larc.ucalgary.ca

Location:

Engineering Block A-Room 101 U of C

Speaker:

Dr. Bonnie Meatherall—Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Daniel Limonta Velázquez—Cell Biology, University of Alberta. Dr. Nalini Singhal—Neonatology, Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Juliet Guichon—Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine. This event will be moderated by Dr. Rita Henderson, Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary.

More information at http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/calendar/zika-experts-advocacy-and-public-health-emergency