Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Thursday sent a letter to Anthony Fauci, the director for the national institute of allergy and infectious diseases (NIAID), asking that he “prioritize research” for a potential vaccine to the virus. Zika virus also is present in two U.S. territories, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Fauci and Dr. Ann Schuchat, the CDC Deputy Director emphasized that a large-scale outbreak in the U.S.is unlikely due in part to urban areas that are less dense than those in South and Central Americas, mosquito controls, climate differences and other public health initiatives. But an initial trial of an experimental Zika vaccine could begin later this year, Fauci said.
Zika, transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, is believed to cause birth defects such as microcephaly, or small heads.
Health officials suspect that Zika is linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil in which babies have small heads.
In his meeting with senior health official and National Security team, Obama emphasised the need to accelerate research efforts to make available better diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves from infection, the White House said.
“Increasing lines of evidence suggest that some women who are infected with Zika during their pregnancy may go on to deliver a baby with a serious brain injury”, Schuchat said.
“The virus is spreading throughout the Americas, and we expect more countries to be affected”, Schuchat said.
The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.
Schuchat said that “it’s very rare for a person with Zika to get seriously ill or to die” from it. Researchers are now investigating whether there is any link between Zika virus and Guillain-Barre.
CDC said no locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in the continental U.S., but cases have been reported in returning travelers.
“The imminent threat of Zika to the United States is deeply troubling, as are reports that the development of a vaccine could take as long as ten years”, Gillibrand wrote, citing the spread of the virus to 24 countries.
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And the US mosquito populations aren’t as bad, though it can be hard to knock them out completely, Schuchat said. According to Reuters, Fauci said the reason the vaccine wasn’t further developed was because a drug company to partner in its development could not be found. He added that with the Zika virus, this shouldn’t be a problem.
