In the United States, Zika virus has already caused two outbreaks Florida, 42 local mosquito infections and infected more than 580 pregnant women across the country. However, the nation's Zika response funding remains beyond reach as the U.S. Congress refused to approve President Barack Obama's $1.9 billion Zika response proposal, which was passed in February.
Due to Congress' disapproval, the Zika virus funding has been delayed. Thus, Obama recently prompted the lawmakers to prioritize the proposal when they return from a seven-week summer break as the continued delay has been putting the Americans at a great risk for a Zika outbreak.
In his weekly radio address, Obama said that nation's weaker mosquito control efforts have real-life consequences. The President also added that the emergency funding he requested aims to boost the efforts on mosquito control, as well as track the spread of the virus, NBC News noted.
As Zika virus continues to spread, the Congress took a summer vacation, forcing federal agencies to use other resources such as those needed to address Ebola, cancer and other diseases. Unfortunately, looking for other resources for the Zika virus response was never a viable solution.
President Obama also stressed that Congress should treat Zika virus like the global public health threat that it is. According to Jamaica Observer, the U.S. Head of State added that full funding is needed to fight the increasing spread of the Zika virus, noting that a fraction of the funding won't solve the pressing issues.
Even though Zika virus is not dangerous for most people, the virus is harmful to pregnant women as it has been associated with microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects such as eye defects, hearing loss and impaired growth. But in spite of public health implications, the Congress chose to disregard the Zika funding response proposal.
Since the financial support from the national government has long been insufficient, comprehensive community engagement has been advocated. In fact, Salon revealed that the general public has been encouraged to get rid of the stagnant water in their backyard and used tires, as well as eradicate the possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday that all donated blood in the country will be screened for the Zika virus. The recommendations to all existing blood banks across the nation came after the acknowledgment that Zika virus can be sexually transmitted and can spread in areas where Zika-carrying mosquitoes are absent, New York Times reported.
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