PREPARE has been preparing its network in order to rapidly identify, diagnose and collect crucial clinical data in case autochthonously-transmitted Zika arrives in Europe.
- The protocol of the PREPARE ARBO virus study in the Balkans that will begin in May 2016 has been modified so that adult Zika cases, both those presenting acutely or with GBS in secondary care, may be identified. We are prepared to expand the study to additional areas such as, Italy, France, Spain, Slovenia and Montenegro, depending on how the Zika epidemic evolves.
- PREPARE also held a 3-day Arbovirus workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece in March, to strengthen preparedness to (re-) emerging arbovirus infections including Zika virus in Europe. The workshop was attended by ID consultants and laboratory staff from across South/South Europe. Presentations are available from the PREPARE Virtual Learning Centre and another workshop is planned for 2017.
- PREPARE has collaborated with ISARIC to establish publically available Zika research tools (https://zikainfection.tghn.org/research-tools-and-resources/crfs/) to collect clinical standardized neonate and maternal clinical and laboratory data. These tools are available in English, French and Portuguese and available for any researchers establishing ZIKA cohort or case-control studies for standardized data collection.
- An editorial publication “Zika: structuring the European research response” was produced in collaboration with members of WP3, WP7,WP9, and ISARIC: ERJ Open Research Mar 2016, 2 (1) DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00025-2016 (http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/2/1/00025-2016)
PREPARE continues to monitor the Zika outbreak and communicate with ECDC, PAHO, WHO and other organizations to keep up to date on latest developments and risk assessments to guide its outbreak research response mode.