The Heat: Ebola and Zika virus

The Heat

In Brazil, more than 3,800 babies have been born with birth defects linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus. So far dozens have died, but first an update on the Ebola situation in West Africa.

More than 11,000 people died during the deadly Ebola epidemic that spread across West Africa beginning in 2014.
Recently, the World Health Organization declared the hardest hit nations, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are Ebola-free. Still, a new case underscores the challenges facing countries like these.

China is one of the nations now leading the charge to find an effective vaccine to treat Ebola. And China’s efforts, in responding during the early stages of the crisis, have been acknowledged by West African leaders.

The Heat was joined by the following panel:

    • From Sierra Leone is Boie Jalloh. He is a doctor who treated Ebola patients on the front lines at the height of the epidemic.
    • From Geneva is Peter Graaff. He is the former Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Ebola Emergency Response.

Thousands of babies affected in Latin America by Zika virus

Dozens of babies have died in Brazil from birth defects that impact the size of a child’s head.
There is lots of concern about something called the Zika virus.

CCTV America correspondent Paulo Cabral join The Heat from Sao Paulo.
Also from Miami, Aileen Marty joined The Heat’s discussion. Marty is a professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University.