Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
CDC, Puerto Rico Spar Over Zika Case Reporting
Stat: Feud Erupted Between CDC, Puerto Rico Over Reporting Of Zika Cases
US health officials have privately expressed deep concern that Puerto Rico is downplaying the extent of its Zika problem and have struggled to get a grasp on the issue because of a protracted and ugly dispute with health officials in the territory, according to a document obtained by STAT. The rift was so contentious that, at one point, health leaders in Puerto Rico refused to meet with their counterparts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The multipage document suggests that the dispute has obscured the extent of the territory’s Zika problem for more than half a year. (Branswell, 5/1)
California Healthline: Federal Money For State-Level Zika Tracking, Prevention May End This Summer, Worrying Health Officials
Money that has helped states with Zika tracking and education may come to an end by this summer, putting at risk efforts to better understand the mostly mosquito-borne virus and the devastating birth defects associated with it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told state health officials in a meeting last month that Zika funding is running out and that additional support should not be expected, according to a news report. (Ibarra, 5/1)
