DeLauro Statement on the Zika Virus and the Upcoming World Health Organization Meeting

WASHINGTON, DC (January 28, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement today regarding the spread of the Zika virus and the World Health Organization’s announcement that it would hold an emergency meeting on Monday regarding the virus.

“The Zika virus is quickly becoming a full-fledged public health crisis, with the virus spreading to more than 20 countries and territories and expected to spread to almost every country in the Western Hemisphere. With millions of visitors planning to visit Brazil for the upcoming Olympics, the virus has the potential to spread even further. We must start working now to stop the virus’s spread and enact prevention and response measures that will reduce the human and economic costs of the virus. Recently, I reached out to both the CDC and NIH to ask if they have the resources to address this crisis and I am working with them to ensure an aggressive federal response to stop this outbreak.

“We should not be addressing funding as these crises happen, like we have done in the past with Ebola and the pandemic flu. By fully funding a public health emergency fund ahead of time, we can more successfully prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases. For reasons such as this, I have introduced the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act, which would fund the existing public health emergency fund with $5 billion. We have a moral duty to address these crises, and by having the resources available to respond when a crisis happens, we can save lives and ensure the health and well being of people around the world.”

The Public Health Emergency Fund was established in 1983 and has only been funded twice. Resources in the fund are to be disbursed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services upon declaration of a public health emergency, similar to how the Disaster Relief Fund alleviates state and local needs after a natural disaster.

###