No Sign Of Movement From House Republicans On Emergency Zika Funding
The lawmakers are adamant that Ebola funds should be used first, but the administration says there isn't enough left to properly fight the virus. In other Zika news, there's not much doctors can tell American women who are concerned about getting infected, Brazilian women face difficult decisions, and in Venezuela, the outbreak is complicated by an economic crisis.
STAT:
Obama's Emergency Request For Zika Funding Stalls In Congress
The emergency money the Obama administration wants to fight the Zika virus is stuck in Congress — and so far, there’s no sign that congressional Republicans are about to budge. (Nather, 3/8)
The Washington Post:
Zika Has Pregnant Women In The U.S. Worried, And Doctors Have Few Answers
Across the country, obstetricians and specialists in high-risk pregnancies are fielding concerns ... because of Zika. Patients are alarmed given recent trips to the countries with growing outbreaks in the Caribbean and Latin America. They want reassurance that they’re not infected, that their babies will be safe from the potentially devastating birth defects associated with the virus. Some are even putting fertility treatments on hold. There’s only so much their doctors can tell them since so much about Zika remains unknown. (Sun and Dennis, 3/7)
The Wall Street Journal:
In Brazil, Zika Makes Getting Pregnant A Fraught Choice
As her homeland battles a viral epidemic that may cause babies to be born with undersized skulls and brains, Brazilian radiologist Juliana Salviano has a plan for giving birth to a healthy child: moving to Miami. Ms. Salviano and her husband want to conceive a baby this year. But they have no confidence that their native country will soon tame the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which authorities strongly suspect is linked to a surge in the number of Brazilian babies born with the congenital condition known as microcephaly. (Johnson and Magalhaes, 3/7)
NPR:
Venezuela Struggles To Contain Zika Outbreak Amid Economic Crisis
For pregnant women in Venezuela, the possibility of getting the Zika virus is scary. The country's economy has collapsed, doctors are leaving in droves, and there's no medicine on the shelves. On top of that, the government seems to be downplaying the spread of the disease in the country. (Otis, 3/7)
