WHO:     Heart to Heart International & The University of Kansas Hospital

WHAT:   Public Debriefing by Zika Advisory Committee on Emerging Public

                 Health Threat

WHERE: The University of Kansas Hospital, Dolph C. Simons, Jr. Family

                  Broadcast Studio

WHEN:    Wednesday, March 16, 9:30 am

MEDIA:  Please call with questions and to confirm your attendance, 913-588-5246

BACKGROUND: Dr. Jackenson Davilmar, Medical Director, Haiti, Heart to Heart

International and Dr. Rick Randolph, Chief Medical Officer, Heart to Heart International

Together, with Dr. Lee Norman, Chief Medical Officer, The University of Kansas Health

System recently met with KDHE Epidemiologist Charlie Hunt and Sarah Brown, PhD, Assistant Director of Clinical Pathology Programs with the St. Louis-based Pathologists Overseas, to discuss health concerns related to the growing Zika virus outbreak abroad.  The most recent case of Zika virus diagnosed in Missouri originated in Haiti.

Doctors will brief reporters on the key challenges inherent with fighting the spread of Zika virus in Haiti and similar populations where birth control is not accessible, sex education is poor coupled with a high prevalence of rape; efforts to educate and provide mosquito abatement and protection; and the impact of the Zika virus abroad on the U.S.