[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 66 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               ZIKA VIRUS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I wish to speak about the urgent 
need for Congress to approve emergency funds to fight the Zika virus.
  The Zika virus is a rapidly growing public health threat, and the 
stakes for women are particularly high. The virus is carried by two 
species of mosquito. They are found in 40 States in this country.
  There have been 388 travel-related cases in the United States--
meaning an individual was infected during a trip to Latin America, 
South America, or the Caribbean, where the virus is widespread. There 
have not yet been any reported cases of local transmission in the 
continental United States, although more than 500 cases have been 
reported in Puerto Rico. It is a matter of when, not if, that happens--
particularly as we approach the summer season when mosquitos are most 
active.
  Scientists are still working to understand the effects of the Zika 
virus, but we do know that Zika causes severe, brain-related birth 
defects in babies when women are infected during pregnancy.
  Microcephaly, one of the most serious effects of Zika, causes babies' 
heads to be much smaller than normal. In severe cases, you will also 
see seizures, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, feeding 
problems, hearing loss, and vision problems.
  The CDC continues to research the virus, and it could be several 
years before the full-range of health effects is known.
  One of the most concerning gaps in our scientific knowledge is how 
the disease is transmitted from person to person. The most common way 
people contract the disease is through mosquito bites, but there have 
been documented cases of the virus being spread from men to women 
through sexual contact.
  Zika symptoms are mild--fever, rash, and joint pain--meaning that 
many people may become infected and spread with disease without knowing 
they have it. Unless we act now, we could end up with a significant 
number of Zika carriers who don't know they are infected.
  The administration has asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency 
funding to stop the spread of the Zika virus. I fully support this 
funding request. The Federal Government needs this money for a number 
of reasons, including controlling mosquito populations, researching the 
virus, educating the public, and developing a vaccine.
  As the weather warms, Zika will spread faster, particularly in States 
with persistent mosquito issues. We simply can't ignore public health 
threats of this magnitude, hoping they will go away.
  In closing, Congress cannot afford to delay. I strongly urge the 
Senate to approve the administration's sensible request to fight this 
growing public health threat.

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