世界卫生组织总干事2016年2月1日宣布，继2014年法属波利尼西亚出现类似病例群后，巴西近期报告的小头症病例群及其他神经系统疾病构成“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”。虽然尚未得到科学证实，但人们高度怀疑妊娠期感染寨卡病毒可能是导致小头症的原因。《国际卫生条例》（IHR）将“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”（PHEIC）定义为“疾病通过跨国传播对其他国家构成公共卫生风险从而可能需要协调一致的国际应对行动的特别事件”。事件是否构成“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”由世卫组织总干事在征求“《国际卫生条例》紧急委员会”的意见后决定。紧急委员会由国际专家组成，负责就“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”向世卫组织总干事提供技术建议。 紧急委员会认为，需要采取协调一致的国际应对行动来尽量减少受累国家受到的威胁，降低进一步发生国际传播的风险。 为避免蚊虫叮咬，建议可以使用驱蚊剂、穿着尽可能遮盖全身的衣服（最好是浅色）、使用纱窗等物理屏蔽措施、关闭门窗等。WHO announces a Public Health Emergency of International ConcernWHO Director General declared on 1 Feb 2016 that the recent cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurologic disorders reported in Brazil, following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014, constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It is strongly suspected that Zika infection during pregnancy may cause microcephaly, though not yet scientifically proven.
The term public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) is defined in the International Health Regulations (IHR) as “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response”. The responsibility of determining whether an event is a PHEIC lies with WHO's DIrector-General who may seek the views of the IHR Emergency Committee. The Emergency Committee is made up of international experts to provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a “public health emergency of international concern”. In the view of the Emergency Committee, a coordinated international response is needed to minimize the threat in affected countries and reduce the risk of further international spread.To protect from mosquito bites, we may use insect repellent; wear clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; use physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows.
