Zika outbreak spurs HHS to declare public health emergency in Puerto Rico

On Friday, HHS declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico due to the current rate of Zika transmission on the island and the adverse health implications for pregnant women and their fetuses.

The declaration will enable the agency to better provide support to the Puerto Rican government. As of Aug. 12, the Puerto Rico Department of Health has reported 10,690 laboratory-confirmed cases of the Zika virus among residents of Puerto Rico — 1,035 of these infections have occurred in pregnant women.

The HHS declaration came at the request of Puerto Rico's Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla. Gov. Padilla said, "The threat of Zika to future generations of Puerto Ricans is evident, and I feel a responsibility to do everything that is within my reach to make sure we fight the spread of the virus. This is why we are actively looking for alternatives to prevent the number of infections from increasing. The declaration made by HHS, which grants access to certain funds, is another example of collaboration between the federal government and the government of Puerto Rico."

Gov. Padilla also expressed gratitude to the Obama administration for supporting Zika prevention efforts on the island.

The emergency declaration will allow the Puerto Rican government to apply for federal funds to hire and train workers to bolster mosquito control efforts and allow health department personnel on the island funded by the Public Health Service Act to focus their efforts on the nation's Zika response.

"This administration is committed to meeting the Zika outbreak in Puerto Rico with the necessary urgency," said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. "As the first virus that can be transmitted by mosquitoes known to cause severe birth defects, we are working closely with Puerto Rican officials to pursue solutions to fight the virus in Puerto Rico with a focus on protecting pregnant women and continuing our efforts with jurisdictions throughout the United States to address this public health threat."

More articles on the Zika virus: 
HHS diverts $81M to fund Zika vaccine research  
Florida Zika outbreak could reach Puerto Rico outbreak's levels, virologist says  
FDA approves new Zika genetic test for emergency use 

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