More than 40 U.S. Senate Democrats sent a letter Monday to
Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, demanding immediate passage of $1.9
billion in emergency funds to fight the Zika virus. The Democratic lawmakers accuse Republicans of failing to
act even after 800 Americans, including 89 pregnant women, have been infected.
"It would be shortsighted and dangerous for Congress
not to act quickly to give the administration the resources it needs to fully
fight the ZIka virus and protect Americans," according to the letter.
The Obama administration said last week it will use $510
million in unspent funds for fighting Ebola to tackle Zika. But Democrats say public health officials should not have to
choose between the two diseases, noting that 13 new Ebola cases have cropped up
in West Africa over the last month. Republican leaders say they want more information about the
president's emergency request for Zika, and that they plan to approve some
funding. However, they have been vague on when and how much.
U.S. health officials confirmed last week that Zika is a
cause of birth defects, including microcephaly — a condition in which babies
are born with abnormally small heads.
Experts warn pregnant women or those planning to get
pregnant to avoid travel to Latin American countries with large Zika outbreaks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Please insert your comments here