Zika: CDC Bumps Up EOC to Level 1 Activation

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week announced that it is moving its emergency operations center (EOC) to Level 1 activation in order to enhance its response to the Zika virus outbreak across the country.

The CDC’s EOC has been active since January 22, and it is considered to be the “command center for monitoring and coordinating the emergency response to Zika.” Its goal is to bring together CDC scientists with expertise in several areas of study: arboviruses, reproductive health, and birth and developmental defects. 

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There are more than 300 CDC employees working in collaboration with a wide range of government agencies to “analyze, validate, and efficiently exchange information about the outbreak.”

The CDC this month also released interim guidelines for preventing the sexual transmission of Zika virus and added several destinations to the Zika virus travel alerts.

The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, rash, pain, and red eyes. Pain areas include joints, muscles, and in the back of the eyes.

Reference

CDC Emergency Operations Center moves to highest level of activation for Zika response. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0208-zika-eoca-activation.html. Accessed February 10, 2016.