Health COMpass: Zika Virus

This resource-based section of the Health COMpass website, a project of the Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3), is designed to give users full access to information about the Zika virus, an emerging mosquito-borne virus reported in Uganda in 1947 and new to the Americas in 2015. As detailed in the site, "PAHO [the Pan American Health Organization] anticipates that Zika virus will continue to spread and will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found."

On this website, the Health COMpass provides a collection of project materials as well as tools for social and behaviour change communication to prevent Zika virus infection. It encourages the addition of user's own materials by registering on the Health COMpass and contributing.

Forms of prevention are detailed and health advisories on pregnancy from various countries are detailed, and links to the WHO [World Health Organization] MediaCentre and PAHO websites are included.

The examples section includes posters such as: "Going to the American Tropics?" advising travellers on the danger of mosquito bites and prevention methods; "Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites and Dengue" brochure; and "Mosquito Bite Prevention for Travelers" From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guide and strategy documents include: "Preparemos el Plan de Emergencia Comunitario (Let's Prepare our Community Emergency Plan) and "COMBI [Communication for Behavioural Impact] SBCC [Social and Behaviour Change] Communication Strategy for Integrated Community Level Malaria, TB, and HIV Prevention [Namibia].

The tools section includes documents such as:

• WHO Pregnancy Management in the Context of Zika Virus
• Risk Communication and Community Engagement for Zika Virus Prevention and Control - from a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) partnerships with WHO and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• Zika App - a mobile phone application for iPhone and Android phones offering general information about the virus, suspected complications, and treatment options.
• Zika Virus Global Emergency Response Plan, the WHO February 2016 global strategic response framework
• A Zika fact page and an infographic, as well as a "Questions and Answer" page on the virus and one on pregnancy and the virus
• A "Zika Virus Disease Outbreaks" that tracks the virus spread
• A number of documents on lessons learned from other health crises, particularly malaria and Ebola - including social media tool use and community organising and mobilisation.