Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Thoughts On Zika: Undercounting The Public Health Threat
The Wall Street Journal: The Zika Undercount And The Virus’s Growing Threat To Public Health
When I was coordinating the U.S. response to Ebola in the fall of 2014, one frequent problem was false reports of Ebola cases in this country. Early symptoms of Ebola resemble flu. Even when we screened out the 99% of flu patients who had not been to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea (and therefore did not have Ebola), there were still many more suspected or feared cases than actual instances of Ebola in the U.S. Many sleepless nights in the winter of 2014-2015 ended, fortunately, with negative Ebola tests. But among the many reasons policy makers and citizens are not taking seriously enough the potential threat and consequences of Zika is that just the opposite is true for this virus. (Ron Klain, 8/28)
Miami Herald: Rick Scott’s List Of How To Fight Zika In 14 Easy Steps
Gov. Rick Scott’s War on Zika: 1. Whenever a new Zika case is confirmed in Florida, I will immediately rush to that county and stage a “round-table” discussion. This will calm fears in the local community, and lead tourists to believe that it’s still safe to visit. (Carl Hiaasen, 8/27)
Miami Herald: In Zika Fight, ‘Don’t Get Pregnant’ Is Lousy Advice
Don’t get pregnant.” Not now. Maybe not for two years. This was the advice governments gave women in a number of South American countries when the connection was established between the Zika virus and microcephaly, a serious birth defect that can result in seizures and developmental delays. But details on how they were supposed to accomplish this in countries with limited access to contraception and strict abortion restrictions weren’t provided. (Alice Pettway, 8/26)
Los Angeles Times: Disability Rights And Reproductive Rights Don't Have To Be In Conflict
Earlier this month, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio stated that women infected with the Zika virus, which can cause congenital disabilities such as microcephaly, should not be permitted to have legal abortions. In March, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, now the Republican nominee for vice president, signed a bill banning abortions following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or related conditions. Similar bills have passed or are pending in other states. (David Perry and Elizabeth Picciuto, 8/29)
