Roundup: LatAm nations eye cooperation in fight against zika

Health ministers of 13 Latin American nations met here Wednesday to announce a plan aiming to enhance regional cooperation in the fight against the zika virus.

According to a joint declaration issued after the one-day emergency meeting convened to coordinate "adequate responses" to zika, the ministers from Mercosur members and associated states agreed that "collaboration is needed to guarantee the success" of the fight against zika.

The countries will establish a new information system to make sure the prevention and control measures are implemented along their shared borders, with priority given to vector control and prevention.

The attendees also pledged to "permanently" coordinate their actions in "investigating and developing new technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention" of the disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

According to the document, an emergency response group, coordinated by the pro tempore president of Mercosur, will be established to study zika's evolution and offer recommendations.

The Latin American countries have also agreed that the World Health Organization (WHO) must play an essential role "in fighting the regional epidemic."

Uruguay's Minister of Public Health Jorge Basso said the WHO has agreed to create "distinct protocols and technical directives for special areas" affected by Zika, in order to enhance "vigilance, risk communication and clinical management of patients."

The meeting has gathered health ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, as well as representatives from the Pan American Health Organization.

On the same day, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff called on all Brazilians to participate in the fight against zika and to prevent the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

"We will prove once again that Brazil is strong. It has a conscientious population that will not be defeated by a mosquito and the virus it carries. More than ever, Brazil needs to be united," she said.

She announced that a major campaign against zika will begin on Feb. 13, with 220,000 soldiers ready to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds nationwide.

"The war ... is complex because it must be fought everywhere and requires the involvement of all. If we unite, the fight will be simple. We cannot admit defeat since victory depends on our determination to wipe out breeding grounds," the president said. Endi