CDC deactivates Emergency Operations Center for Zika response

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced it deactivated its emergency response for Zika virus on Sept. 29 in order to transition its efforts to normal program operations.

Beginning on Jan. 22, 2016, the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as a response measure to the spread of Zika virus for pregnant women.

A team of emergency response experts, called the Zika Coordination and Response Team (ZCOTT), will now help lead the transition from EOC activation to its normal, long-term activities to ensure a timely collaboration on scientific and policy-related actions.

Developed to help monitor and coordinate emergency response to public health threats, the CDC’s EOC has previously been activated for incidents including the 2009 H1N1 avian influenza outbreak, the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and a number of natural disasters. In its most recent activation, experts with the EOC initiated a number of activities aimed at protecting pregnant women, fetuses, infants and the general public from the virus’ effects.

The agency noted that it recognizes the need for continued coordination among federal, state and local levels to provide services for families affected by the virus and will provide technical assistance as resources permit.

While deactivation signifies that the virus does not present the same level of threat to public health it once did, it does not mean that the public is no longer at risk of infection. CDC stated that there is still a risk for pregnant women and the continental United States as well as Hawaii as those areas will see some travel-related cases as people visit areas still at risk of Zika transmission.