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White House to request $1.8 billion from Congress to battle Zika virus

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The White House announced in a statement today that it will request $1.8 billion from Congress for domestic and international emergency funding to combat Zika virus.  

The administration’s proposed funds will build upon and support ongoing preparedness efforts such as the implementation of mosquito control programs; vaccine research and diagnostic development; educating health care providers, pregnant women and their partners; improving health services for low-income pregnant women; and enhancing surveillance.  

Since last December, the CDC identified 50 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection among U.S. travelers, the statement said. The virus continues to spread in the Americas and Caribbean, with several autochthonous infections reported for the first time in Costa Rica, Curaçao, Jamaica and Nicaragua, according to WHO.

“As spring and summer approach, bringing with them larger and more active mosquito populations, we must be fully prepared to mitigate and quickly address local transmission within the continental U.S., particularly in the Southern United States,” the statement said. “Congressional action on the administration’s request will accelerate our ability to prevent, detect and respond to the Zika virus and bolster our ability to reduce the potential for future infectious disease outbreaks.”

If the funds are approved, HHS will receive $1.48 billion, of which $828 million would be allocated to the CDC, $200 million to the Vaccine Research and Diagnostic Development and Procurement, and $210 million for other HHS response activities, including a new Urgent and Emerging Threat Fund that would finance resources for Zika virus and other infectious disease outbreaks. In addition, Puerto Rico’s Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage would receive a temporary, 1-year increase of $250 million to expand health services for pregnant women at risk for or infected with Zika virus, and children diagnosed with microcephaly.

Of the remaining funds, $335 million would be distributed to the U.S. Agency for International Development for preparedness efforts in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and $41 million would be distributed to the U.S. Department of State to aid U.S. citizens and State Department employees in affected countries. The administration’s request would also allow the use of remaining USAID Ebola funds and support activities implemented by WHO, the Pan American Health Organization and UNICEF’s Zika response in Brazil.

A formal request for the emergency funds will be submitted to Congress shortly, the statement said.