By Erin Delmore
Correspondent
Zika is the first infectious disease in 50 years known to cause a birth defect. There’s no vaccine. No treatment.
“We know that the threat of a Zika outbreak in the United States come summer is increasing with each passing day,” said Sen. Cory Booker.
There have been more than 400 travel-related Zika cases in the U.S. to date, nine of them in New Jersey. It’s touched 42 states. At least 36 women have been affected during their pregnancies. The disease causes microcephaly — a severe birth defect marked by small heads and the destruction of brain tissue.
“There are three ways that this virus can be transmitted. The first way is from the body of an infected mosquito. We’ve also learned that sexual transmission can result in acquiring the disease, and there is the theoretical risk of blood transfusion,” said Dr. Stephen Redd, director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response for the Centers for Disease Control.
Tropical U.S. territories report some 600 cases of the Zika virus. Puerto Rico is ground zero. It’s been reported in more than 60 countries.
And as it begins to warm up, infected mosquitoes will be moving north, just in time for vacation season, when air travel can increase the spread exponentially.
“This is an insidious virus because its symptoms can be mild and relatively undetectable,” said Sen. Bob Menendez.
In fact, 80 percent of people infected don’t show any symptoms. The virus was discovered around 70 years ago in Africa. The first case? In a monkey. It was thought to cause only mild illness, if anything. Very severe birth defects were only identified a year ago, when the virus made its way to Brazil, ahead of the Olympics. The senators advocated for U.S. dollars to fight the disease at home and abroad.
“When the health of the United States of America, our citizens, pregnant women and our children is at risk, we must respond and do whatever it takes to be prepared for a potential crisis,” Booker said.
President Obama requested around $1.9 billion in emergency funding to fight the spread of the virus earlier this year. Six hundred million has been re-routed from Ebola-torn areas. A$1.1 billion package was left in limbo when Congress broke for a week-long recess.
Experts say this public health crisis demands immediate action, starting with education and prevention. That means using insect repellent with DEET, wearing long sleeves, eliminating pools of stagnant water and using screens, fans and air conditioners when the weather gets warm.