Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
A FEMA-Like Fund Exists To Fight Zika -- But Congress Has Left That Piggy Bank Empty
Public health advocates who are exasperated by the fight on Capitol Hill over how much to spend to combat the Zika virus are looking longingly at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA has a standing fund that it can draw upon when disaster strikes. The fund is replenished when the money is spent cleaning up from hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. If only, public health experts sigh. (Kodjak, 6/3)
The nation’s top doctor is stepping up his warnings about the need for funds to fight the Zika virus in the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says federal health agencies are nearing the end of their reserves as they to try to halt the outbreak and will need new funds from Congress immediately to keep fighting the disease. (Ferris, 6/3)
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says that if Congress does not act now on Zika prevention funding, lawmakers may have to return to Washington later for an emergency vote. (6/5)
In other news, the birth defects associated with Zika go beyond microcephaly, and the World Health Organization says it will hold an emergency meeting to evaluate the risks of holding the Olympics in Brazil —
World Health Organization officials on Friday cautioned that "many thousands" of infants infected with Zika virus could suffer neurological abnormalities and said nations dealing with an outbreak need to watch for problems beyond the widely reported cases of microcephaly. These include spasticity, seizures, irritability, feeding difficulties, eyesight problems and evidence of severe brain abnormalities. (Berkrot, 6/3)
The damage the Zika virus can do to a developing fetus appears to be even greater than has been previously understood, the World Health Organization said Friday. (Branswell, 6/3)
With debate growing over the safety of holding the Olympics in Brazil amid the ongoing Zika virus outbreak, the World Health Organization's Emergency Committee on Zika will meet in the coming weeks to evaluate the risks tied to going on with the Games in August, a WHO spokeswoman said on Friday. "The Emergency Committee meeting will consider the situation in Brazil, including the question of the Olympics," WHO spokeswoman Nyka Alexander told Reuters in response to a query. (Nebehay and Berkrot, 6/3)
Olympic champion Gabby Douglas says the Zika virus won't affect her plans to pursue more gold in Rio de Janeiro. "It's the Olympics," Douglas said Friday. "Mosquitoes? Like, whatever. I'm going. This is my shot. I don't care about no stupid bugs." The 20-year-old Douglas and other Olympic hopefuls are in Hartford for the Secret U.S. Classic on Saturday. The meet is the final tune-up for the national championships in St. Louis this month. (6/3)
