As Likelihood of Zika Spreads Throughout the U.S., Congress Fails to Fund Zika Response #Zika

On July 29, at a press conference following a health department investigation into four suspected Zika cases in Florida’s Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Governor Rick Scott announced the first local spread of the Zika virus through infected mosquitoes in the continental United States. The announcement comes following Congress’ failure to fund a response to the highly spreadable disease.

In response, Sierra Club Global Environment Director A. Tianna Scozzaro released the following statement:

“Zika has the potential to turn what should be one of the happiest times in a woman’s life into one of the most stressful. As the Zika virus becomes a terrifying reality for women across the United States, it’s clear Congressional Republicans would rather play political games than stop an infectious virus that hurts women and their families.

“Public health emergencies like the Zika virus have the potential to become more common and unpredictable as the climate crisis deepens. The effects of climate disruption are not gender neutral. For women, when climate catastrophes hit, they hit hard. With Zika, a virus with a particularly significant impact on women, this connection couldn’t be more clear. It is imperative that those who must deal with climate change’s potential unpredictable consequences have the tools they need to adapt and survive. Without securing funding for the coming public health emergency, Congressional Republicans have failed women and families.”