AMA, CDC Update Nation’s Physicians on Latest Zika Virus Guidance

CHICAGO — The American Medical Assoc. (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the following statements regarding the Zika virus yesterday as they hosted a webinar for American’s physicians and clinicians on the current status of the outbreak.

“As the Zika virus outbreak continues to evolve and more Americans become impacted by the virus, we must ensure that our nation’s physicians, and all clinicians, are prepared to handle possible cases of the virus and are equipped with the most up-to-date information to answer patients’ questions,” said AMA President Andrew Gurman.

The webinar aimed to provide physicians and other clinicians with an update on the current status of the outbreak and the latest clinical guidance to help them diagnose and manage patients and prevent further transmission of the Zika virus.

The AMA will continue to update its online Zika Virus Resource Center with the latest Zika-related information from the CDC and other trusted healthcare organizations to support healthcare professionals in combating and preventing complications from the virus to help keep their patients safe and healthy.

With an increasing number of Zika cases confirmed in the U.S., including this week’s news of the death of a newborn baby with Zika-linked microcephaly, the AMA continues to call on policy makers in Washington, D.C. to immediately make the necessary resources available to combat the growing threat of the virus and protect the American public. For months, the AMA has vigorously urged that sufficient resources be provided to ensure the nation is able to deploy a robust public-health response to the Zika virus.

“Clinicians play an important role in the fight against Zika in the United States,” said Dr. Michael Bell, CDC deputy director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. “CDC and AMA are working together to ensure that medical staff are properly equipped and trained to help protect Americans’ health from Zika.”