Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obama Doubles Funding Request For Zika Research To $277M
The Obama administration has significantly increased its request for emergency funding to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus, STAT has learned. In an updated request sent to Capitol Hill Monday and provided to STAT by a congressional aide, the administration increases the amount of research funding, including vaccine research, for the National Institutes of Health from $130 million to $277 million. That money will help NIH prepare for Phase II trials for vaccines in the next fiscal year, according to the aide. (Scott, 4/18)
A group of Senate Democrats are urging the chamber to act on the administration鈥檚 request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding for the Zika virus in a letter to top Republicans. Dozens of Democrats support and have signed the letter, which is still collecting signatures, Matt House, a spokesman for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), said in an email. The letter, to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urges a committee markup as soon as possible. (McIntire, 4/18)
"For more than two months, Congress has failed to respond to the administration's Zika request. But more importantly, Congress has failed to address a disease that has infected nearly 700 Americans in 40 states, Washington, D.C., and 3 U.S. territories, including more than 65 pregnant women," the letter read. (Taylor, 4/18)
Elsewhere, New York City announces its plan to protect its residents from "the devastating consequences" of Zika聽鈥
New York City announced plans on Monday to combat the spread of Zika virus, a largely mosquito-borne disease that has spread rapidly in the Western Hemisphere and raised concern that it may cause birth defects in infants if their mothers are infected during pregnancy. The city鈥檚 plans are based on a health department program to combat the spread of West Nile virus, a relative of Zika that is also spread by mosquitoes, the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. (Stack, 4/18)
Mr. de Blasio said the city would work to reduce mosquito populations, track new infections and start a public-information campaign. The plan also will include an additional $7.4 million in state support. 鈥淲e do not see a scenario in this city or this country where there will be a widespread outbreak, but that does not stop us from wanting to address even more limited problems,鈥 said Mr. de Blasio, who stood with health officials at the Public Health Lab in Manhattan. (Gay, 4/18)
