Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency In Puerto Rico Over Zika
The Obama administration declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico on Friday because of the Zika virus, sending a message to the island that the virus, which has infected more than 10,000 residents, should be taken seriously. The warning came more than six months after the World Health Organization declared the virus, and the birth defects it can cause, a global health emergency, and it was not clear if the declaration would have much effect. (Tavernise, 8/12)
"This administration is committed to meeting the Zika outbreak in Puerto Rico with the necessary urgency," Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a department statement. Burwell traveled to the U.S. territory in late April to evaluate its response to the outbreak. ... The announcement came hours after Puerto Rico reported 1,914 new cases in the past week, for a total of 10,690 since the first one was reported in December. (8/12)
With more than 10,000 confirmed Zika cases on the island, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday declared a public-health emergency in Puerto Rico. In announcing the declaration, the federal agency pointed to the dangers that the mosquito-borne virus poses to pregnant women. Zika can cause severe birth defects. (8/14)
The Obama administration on Friday declared a 鈥減ublic health emergency鈥 in Puerto Rico over the Zika virus.聽The move is an indication of the severity of the virus in Puerto Rico, which is being hit much harder than the continental United States. The declaration allows Puerto Rico to apply for additional funding to fight the virus, which can cause severe birth defects. (Sullivan, 8/12)
The number of infections caused by the Zika virus in Puerto Rico has surpassed 10,000, an official said Friday, a day after the White House said it would redirect funds from other efforts to help pay for research to find a vaccine. The moves come as Florida continues to spray insecticide in parts of Miami to kill mosquitoes that can transmit the virus. The spraying was launched last week after health officials identified cases of locally transmitted Zika. Previous infections reported in the U.S. occurred only among people who traveled abroad. (Fernandez, 8/12)
