CDC director: Funding delay hurts fight against Zika

The virus has spread from Brazil, the epicenter of an epidemic, to almost 50 countries, majority in Latin America and the Caribbean. Zika is especially unsafe but it often exhibits no symptoms, which can make it harder to convince people of the need to protect themselves and their families.

The scientist accidentally stuck herself with a needle last month during a Zika experiment.

Worldwide health officials have found a connection between pregnant women contracting the virus and a birth defect called microcephaly in their newborn infants.

The case of a visitor to the Cayman Islands who tested positive for the Zika virus after returning to her home country, was found to be sexually transmitted via contact with her partner – who acquired the virus on St Maarten.

With Congress stepping up efforts to reach agreement on dollars to combat the spreading Zika virus, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is spending much of Thursday getting updates from local officials in the fight.

The Zika virus is the most recent mosquito-borne virus outbreak.

Lander said the Aedes aegypti mosquito has been shown to carry the Zika virus and the Aedes albopictus mosquito has the potential to carry it.

University of Kentucky entomologists recently developed a website that will have the most up-to-date information on the Zika virus and its spread, as mosquito populations around the state begin to build.

The virus is spreading in Puerto Rico and health officials say clusters of illnesses are likely in the mainland USA as mosquito season heats up.

Scott said he made the request for additional kits during a call with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and CDC Director Tom Frieden.

“Men and women of reproductive age living in affected areas should be informed and orientated to consider delaying pregnancy”, the World Health Organization said in Thursday’s guidance.

Frieden said a key element of the federal response is CDC rapid response teams when cases arise. Before the recess, the Senate passed a $1.1 billion package to fund Zika research and prevention.

Nelson said Thursday he has filed a bill that would provide an additional $130 million per year in grant funding to local mosquito-control boards working to eradicate the species of mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus.

The U.S. Senate approved more than $1 billion in funding, while the House approved just over $600 million.