Is Brazil losing the battle against the Zika virus?

As the mosquito-borne Zika virus spreads across Latin America, are countries such as Brazil losing the battle against the disease?

In this week's UpFront, Mehdi Hasan speaks to Celso Amorim, Brazil's former foreign minister, about what more the country can do to fight the disease.

In the Reality Check, Mehdi Hasan looks beyond the organisation's flaws and points to the importance of the UN on a global stage.

And, five years after the Bahraini protest movement, we speak with a Bahraini activist and a former member of the Shura Council.

Headliner: Fighting Zika in Brazil

The outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus across Central and South America has many looking for a solution.

The Zika virus is strongly suspected to be linked to birth defects, including microcephaly, a disease in which a baby is born with an underdeveloped brain and unusually small head. The illness is also believed to be linked to severe eye abnormalities in babies, which may lead to blindness. Some also fear that there may be a connection between the Zika virus and a rare nerve disorder.

In this week's Headliner, we speak to Celso Amorim, Brazil's former foreign minister and a member of the UN Secretary General's High-level Panel on the Global Response to the Health Crises.

Amorim says that he does not believe the country is losing the battle against the Zika virus, but calls it a "big" and "unexpected" problem.

"Brazil ... acted quickly [and] with great transparency," he adds.

The spread of the virus in Brazil has also reignited the debate over abortion, which is illegal in Brazil with certain exceptions. Amorim says in light of the disease, "regulation should be relaxed", but with strong opposition from the public and the Roman Catholic Church, this would "require an evolution from society".

Reality Check: In defence of the UN

From corruption scandals to allegations of sexual abuse within peacekeeping ranks, the United Nations has been the subject of criticism in recent years.

And while the serious flaws within the organisation are inexcusable, one also has to look at some of the unique work it carries out, such as providing aid to the more than 55 million refugees in 123 countries.

In this week's Reality Check, Mehdi Hasan looks beyond the organisation's flaws and points to the UN's importance on a global stage.

Bahrain: Five years after the protests

Described by some as the "forgotten revolution" of the Arab Spring, February 14 marks the fifth anniversary of the protest in Bahrain.

So, five years on, what are current realities on the ground?

In the Arena, Mansoor al Arayedh, chairman of the Gulf Council for Foreign Relations and a former member of the Shura Council, debates with the Bahraini activist Maryam al Khawaja, exiled co-director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, who was sentenced in absentia by the Bahraini authorities and whose father, also a human rights activist, is serving a life sentence in prison.