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<p>The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Adviser and Public Health England (PHE)
have had a number of discussions over recent weeks with a wider range of international
authorities. The Secretary of State has been briefed about all such discussions.</p><p>PHE
and the National Travel Health Network and Centre have been carefully monitoring the
Zika virus outbreak in the Americas since it was first reported in Brazil during May
2015. PHE and the Department attended a European Union Health Security Committee teleconference
and PHE has shared a recent European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
risk assessment on Zika virus with colleagues in England, the Devolved Administrations
and Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. PHE has been in discussion with infectious
disease authorities in Brazil with respect to understanding the epidemiological and
clinical picture associated with Zika virus and microcephaly and other congenital
malformations.</p><p>Through the International Health Regulations National Focal Point,
PHE has shared information with the European Union, ECDC and other European Member
States on the number of cases of Zika virus infection in returning travellers.</p>
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