U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) co-sponsored legislation on Tuesday that would direct unspent federal dollars to fight the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
The Zika Response and Safety Act, H.R. 4446, introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), would give federal agencies the authority to direct more than $1 billion that was previously allocated by Congress to Zika virus. The virus has been linked to a birth defect called microcephaly and a progressive neurological disorder in adults.
“Pregnant women and their newborns are particularly vulnerable and need our help,” Buchanan said. “Congress needs to act now before the summer months arrive and the mosquito-borne virus becomes a burgeoning health crisis in Florida and other southern states.”
There have been 16 cases of Zika virus reported in Florida to date. Overall, there have been at least 50 cases reported across the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On Tuesday, the CDC put its emergency operations center on Level 1 status, the highest possible, due to Zika virus. That level has only been activated three times before – the Ebola outbreak of 2014, the H1N1 pandemic of 2009 and for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Congress previously allocated approximately $1.4 billion to fight the Ebola epidemic that has not been disbursed, according to report by the International Ebola Response and Preparedness Inspector General. The Zika Response and Safety Act would give federal agencies the discretion to use those funds to fight Zika virus, in addition to Ebola.