Newswise — WASHINGTON (Feb. 3, 2016)—The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika virus an international health emergency, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued travel guidance, encouraging pregnant women to postpone travel to regions areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. The Zika virus, spread by mosquitos, can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby, causing the birth defect microcephaly (a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age). The George Washington University (GW) has health experts available to talk about the Zika virus.

Please contact Lisa Anderson at [email protected] or 202-994-3121 to interview Dr. Simon or Dr. Diemert at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences:

Gary Simon, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Walter G. Ross Professor of Medicine and of Microbiology & Tropical Medicine, is an expert in infectious disease. He can speak to preventative measures, infection, transmission, and treatment of the Zika virus.

David Diemert, M.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, is an expert in infectious disease research. He can speak to treatment in endemic areas, the health care system in Brazil, and research needs.

Please contact Kathy Fackelmann at [email protected] or 202-994-8354 to interview Dr. Waldman or Dr. Fischer at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at GW:

Ronald Waldman, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Global Health, is an epidemiologist and an expert on global health. He can talk about the Zika virus and the global response to such emerging health problems, including the WHO’s inadequate response to the Ebola crisis.

Julie E. Fischer, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor of Health Policy and Management, is an expert on emergency preparedness and infectious diseases, such as Zika. She can talk about the basic biology of the virus and concern that it may spread in the U.S.

Rebecca Katz, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, is an expert on the intersection of national security and infectious diseases, including the Zika virus. She has worked extensively on the International Health Regulations and the Global Health Security Agenda, an international initiative aimed at reducing the risk posed by infectious diseases.