The Puerto Rican government declared a public health emergency due to the Zika virus after Governor Alejandro García Padilla signed an executive order Friday, according to a Diario de Puerto Rico report (computer translated).
The executive order creates an Integral National Plan intended to prevent, protect, and treat the disease, to be carried out by the State Agency for Emergency Management.
He said that alliance includes state and federal officials, health-related organization, volunteers, and communities, among others.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine locally acquired cases and 1 travel-associated case have been reported to CDC from U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
On Wednesday, the Director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, told ministers of health in a meeting convened by the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), in Montevideo, Uruguay that more resources are urgently needed to fight the spread of Zika in the Americas and the apparently related increase in microcephaly and other complications.
PAHO is requesting $8.5 million from the international community to support its technical cooperation with member countries.
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- Santa Clara U reports on 3rd meningococcal meningitis case
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