Congressman Curt Clawson (FL-19) today introduced a legislative package aimed at reducing the spread of the Zika virus in the United States.
On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared a “public health emergency of international concern” over the rapid spread of the Zika virus. The Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which is the predominate carrier of the Zika virus, also spreads Dengue fever and Chikungunya, making it an even more formidable threat to public health. More than 30 countries and territories have reported local cases of the Zika virus, which, when contracted by pregnant women, is thought to be the cause of a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and developmental problems.
Clawson’s legislative package attacks the health hazard on multiple levels from prevention, to ensure that the disease does not become prevalent in the United States, to ensuring that localities are prepared to deal with any instances of outbreak as they arise.
Clawson’s three bills would:
- · Provide a 10% tax credit for qualified research and development costs incurred by any company developing a vaccine for the Zika virus.
- Reauthorize a $200 million a year grant program for 5 years to fight against mosquito-borne diseases, allowing states to use it in mosquito control programs in order to conduct assessments and to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases.
- Authorize the use of excess HHS Ebola funds for Zika response and preparedness. While the funds could still be used for Ebola as necessary, this bill would expand the availability of the funds to also be used in the fight against Zika.
Clawson, a dengue fever survivor of an Aedes aegypti mosquito bite on a work trip overseas, made the following statement following the bills’ introductions:
“The explosive spread of this mosquito-borne virus, exacerbated by a lack of vaccines and reliable diagnostic tests, must be curbed utilizing every tool at our disposal in a coordinated international response. Given the tropical nature of Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, my district is highly susceptible to an outbreak, with 18 travel-related cases already reported in the state of Florida. The Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, the main carrier of the virus, is widely found in Florida. The Zika virus is sneaking up on us and we’re not paying enough attention. If we deal with it prior to an outbreak we will be much better off.”
Earlier this week, prior to introducing his legislation, Clawson heard testimony in the Foreign Affairs Committee from the directors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.