The Communications Committee is working to revive the global health news round-up, which has been a popular feature in the past. Stay tuned!
WHO has released its latest situation report on Zika virus. The Director-General has announced that the cluster of microcephaly and other neurologic disorders in Brazil is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Experts also agreed that there is an urgent need for coordinated international efforts to understand the relationship between Zika virus and such neurologic disorders.
Nearly 25% of the South Sudanese population face food insecurity and in need of food assistance. This is particularly worrisome because this increase in hunger has occurred during the post-harvest season, a time when the country has traditionally been food secure.
A recent article in Health Affairs assessed the return on investment from childhood immunization programs to prevent diseases associated with 10 antigens in low- and middle- income countries. Their study shows that net gains were greater than costs across all 10 antigens.
Dr. Paul Farmer and 16 others who comprise the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future have said in their 130-page report that pandemics are inevitable and that a key solution is investing in the countries’ health systems.
An analysis of the data from the Global Burden of Disease 2013 Study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that “road injuries were the leading cause of death among adolescents globally.” Road traffic injuries killed nearly 115,000 young people, compared with ~76,000 deaths due to HIV/AIDS.
IH CONNECT 
Thanks, Jessica!