US President calls on Congress for $1.9 billion to fight Zika virus crisis

In a letter to Congress, US President Barack Obama has called on lawmaker to consider the fiscal year 2016 emergency supplemental appropriations request of approximately $1.9 billion to respond to the Zika virus both domestically and internationally.

This funding would build on ongoing preparedness efforts and provide resources for the Departments of Health and Human Services and State, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Funding would support immediate response activities to prevent the spread of, prepare for, and respond to Zika virus transmission; fortify domestic public health systems to prevent, detect, and respond to Zika virus transmission; speed research, development, and procurement of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; provide emergency assistance to States and the US Territories to combat the virus; provide additional Federal Medicaid funding in Puerto Rico and the other US Territories for health services for pregnant women at risk of infection or diagnosed with Zika virus, and for children with microcephaly, and for other health care costs; and enhance the ability of Zika-affected countries to better combat mosquitoes, control transmission, and support affected populations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 50 laboratory-confirmed cases of the Zika virus among US travelers from December 2015 - February 5, 2016.  In addition, the Pan American Health Organization reports 26 countries and territories in the Americas with local Zika transmission.  On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.