This House of Lords Library briefing examines the recent outbreak of the Zika Virus.
The Zika Virus: Update, February 2016 (117KB PDF)
In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) issued an alert following the first confirmed case of the Zika virus in Brazil. Since then, the virus has rapidly spread within the country and to 23 other Latin American nations. With the World Health Organisation designating the Zika virus as a ‘global emergency’, PAHO predict that the Americas can “expect three to four million cases” of the Zika virus by the end of the year. Efforts to combat the virus have included Brazil’s government mobilising troops to offer advice to citizens as to how to destroy mosquito breeding grounds near and around their homes. The Governments of Colombia and El Salvador have also advised women to delay pregnancy by six months and two years, respectively, due to the reported link between the virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects. At present, there is no vaccine available to treat the Zika virus.
The Zika Virus: Update, February 2016 (117KB PDF)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
There have been big differences in expenditure across different forms of healthcare for a number of years. In 2024/25, spending on acute care was £74.7bn, compared to £14.5bn on primary care and £13.8bn on community services. Both the 2024 Labour Party manifesto and the subsequent 10 year health plan for England contained an emphasis on shifting towards more care being delivered in local communities rather than in acute settings, dubbed a ‘neighbourhood health service’.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
