30 January 2016 – Outbreaks of Zika virus disease are currently ongoing in 22 countries in the Americas and in 1 country in Africa. No cases of the disease have so far been reported from any country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, the disease is spread by a species of mosquito that exists in the majority of countries of the Region and therefore WHO has communicated with all IHR national focal points and has written to ministries of health advising them of precautionary measures to be taken, including stepping up surveillance. The WHO Director-General is convening a meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on 1 February 2016 in Geneva to discuss the situation.
