Ashford, a Democrat, said he voted for the House version because the Zika virus poses a “potential crisis” for this nation, and the bill was the only one available. He criticized lawmakers for “playing politics” with public health.
Advertisement
This “critical first step” is leading to trials in monkeys and humans, “and gives us early confidence that development of a protective Zika virus vaccine for humans is feasible”, said researcher Col. Nelson Michael. “According to CDC guidance, providers should consider testing all pregnant women with a history of travel to a Zika affected area for the virus”.
There have been 822 travel-associated Zika cases in the United States, Sweeney said. Scott directed state Surgeon General Celeste Philip to oversee distribution of the money to county health departments, local mosquito districts and laboratories for training, mosquito surveillance, and the purchase of Zika prevention kits from the CDC.
All cases in Washington state so far have been detected in people who traveled to any of the more than 45 countries where Zika virus is spreading.
As of June 26, 2016, Zika cases have been confirmed in 61 countries, including countries/territories in the Caribbean.
Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Nearly 3,000 infections have been reported in the US and its territories, the agency says. There have also been four pregnancy losses in the US involving Zika and one in the USA territory of Puerto Rico, the agency said.
On Tuesday, Florida reported its first case of a baby born with microcephaly after the child’s mother, a Haitian citizen, was infected with the Zika virus while pregnant.
Advertisement
He added that while the Zika virus is mainly transmitted through Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, other modes of transmission, such as sexual transmission, have been documented.
