WASHINGTON, DC -- As public health officials continue working to prevent a major outbreak of the Zika virus in the United States, U.S. Senator Jack Reed is urging the Obama Administration to boost efforts to combat the spread of the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus.  The Zika virus is not deadly to those who contract the disease, but has been associated with severe birth defects, and cases have been reported throughout the United States, including New England.

Today, Senator Reed sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enhance preparedness and coordinate with and support local public health departments that are on the frontlines of diagnosing and preventing cases of Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States.  Reed is also urging the federal government to prioritize research and development of a Zika vaccine. 

“We need to learn key lessons from our experience with last year’s Ebola outbreak.  While the risk in Rhode Island is not believed to be high at this time, it is important to keep the public informed and provide necessary resources to aggressively combat this global health challenge,” said Reed.  “Congress needs to do its part and hold hearings to better educate the public and keep them informed and I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we do.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Zika virus is now in more than 20 countries, mostly in Central and South America.  The World Health Organization (WHO) this week declared Zika to be a global health emergency and estimates up to four million people could be infected with the virus by the end of the year.  And reports indicate that so far there have been at least 35 reported cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the United States. 

 

The text of Senator Reed’s letter follows:

 

February 2, 2016

 

The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell

Secretary

The Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Ave., SW

Washington DC, 20201

 

Secretary Burwell:

I write to urge you to prioritize efforts to combat the Zika virus, among other emerging mosquito-borne illnesses.  Over the last few years, we have seen the introduction of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States.  It is imperative that we take steps now to strengthen our public health infrastructure to keep these diseases from spreading widely here in the U.S. and to continue to provide support to countries fighting outbreaks.‎

I am encouraged by the quick action‎ taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to inform the public about Zika, including issuing travel advisories for affected countries and for at-risk populations, such as pregnant women.  I urge you to continue these efforts, including ensuring this information is made available in a variety of languages and conducting outreach in communities, especially those with Latin American populations, in which travel to the affected regions may be more frequent.

State and local public health departments will be critical to strengthening efforts to prevent and diagnose cases of Zika, among other mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States.  While transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses has been limited in the United States so far, it is important that you continue to work with state and local public health departments so they have the most up to date information on diagnostics and testing for mosquito-borne illnesses.  In addition, I urge you to develop best practices for vector control interventions to help prevent cases of these illnesses.‎

I also ask that you ensure the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CDC have adequate resources to prioritize research on testing, diagnostics, and prevention of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya.  In addition, I request that you fast-track research on possible vaccines for Zika, as well as these other illnesses.  Although it has not been confirmed that Zika is the cause of the increase in cases of microcephaly and other birth defects, there is serious cause for concern and we must act quickly to prevent cases of Zika in the U.S. and to mitigate any secondary health impacts.

Should there be additional resources or authorities that you believe will be critical as you work to combat the spread of Zika and mitigate its effects, I ask you to share that information with me.

Again, thank you for your attention to this critical matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Jack Reed

 -end-