Zika Virus & GMA Ruling

Zika Virus & GMA Ruling

Zika Virus & GMA Ruling. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The World Health Organization announced on Monday that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an "extraordinary event" that merits being declared an international emergency. Dr. Margaret Chan made the announcement.

CHAN: In assessing the threat the 18 experts and advisors looked in particular at the strong association in time and in space between infections of the Zika virus and a rise in detected cases of congenital malformations and neurological complications.

The Zika virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes but there is no treatment or vaccine although one health official said in most cases it's so mild, you probably won't know you have it.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is asking a court to penalize the Grocery Manufacturers Association for violating the state's campaign finance laws during a 2013 campaign to defeat a measure that would have required labeling genetically engineered foods. Ferguson sued the group in October 2013, alleging it collected more than $11 million from its members, placed those funds in a special "Defense of Brands" account and used them to oppose Initiative 522, without disclosing the true source of the contributions.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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