Abstract

Herbert, Dilinie The Zika virus has dominated the news media and captured the attention of the international community. Epidemic disease has become the mainstay of public health emergencies in our recent past with Ebola virus in West Africa and now Zika virus in Latin America. An unexpected and troubling feature of this current outbreak is the high incidence of birth defects and neurological health complications. As scientists investigate a possible causal link, health authorities as well as Catholic Church leaders are involved in communicating how women and the wider community should make decisions about their health, reproduction and pregnancy. A morally appropriate, culturally sensitive and socially inclusive approach to managing the immanent risk should be the priority.