Bearsted Lecture Theatre, Royal London Hospital, Alex Wing

Queen Mary, University of London- Whitechapel Campus

This will be the first conference of its type following the recent Zika outbreak and we have confirmed expert speakers presenting on the medical, globalization and policy aspects of the recent Zika epidemic.

Please, find below a short description of the conference.

Current challenges in global health are complex and manifold. In a world of ever-increasing change, urbanization, land-use change, continues use of fossil fuels, trade, and conflict influence the higher risk for emerging health challenges such as the Zika virus. Zika, which is mainly transmitted by the mosquito genus of Aedes aegypti has been known since its discovery in 1948. However, the recent outbreak of zika epidemic in Brazil and co-prevalence of neurological disorders, such as microcephaly in new-born babies, in correlation with a rapid spread across the Latin American continent is a new complex scenario which needs an interdisciplinary approach for analysis and tackling the epidemic and preventing future outbreaks.

Zika has been the latest communicable disease epidemic to develop into a global health emergency. Zika has swept across the Americas affecting women and children in particular. In this conference we will discuss a range of interdisciplinary approaches to analyse the diverse factors that influence the distinct aspects of this complex global health emergency, reaching from research into microcephaly over globalization and future policy.

In the first part, the conference will cover current cutting edge knowledge on epidemiology transmission, intervention and the effect of Zika of unborn babies.

In the second part, the conference will address aspects of social inequalities, climate change and environment that have affected the spread of the Zika virus and how this can be attributed to globalization.

Finally, the conference will turn towards policy, to address questions around evaluation of policy response and lessons learned.

Our confirmed speakers are:

• Prof. Jimmy Withworth (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
• Prof. Joan Morris (Queen Mary University of London)
• Asha Herten-Crabb (Chatham-House)
• Dr. Cyril Caminade (University of Liverpool)
• Dr. Clare Wenham (London School of Economics)
• Dr. Juliet Bedford (Director of Anthrologica)

If you are interested and would like information please refer to our website.

To book tickets please use our Eventbrite page.

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