Zika Is in the U.S. Now, But Experts Fear We’re Not Prepared to Fight It

Public health experts are worried that state and local health departments aren't prepared to handle Zika, after the first likely locally transmitted cases of the virus were announced Friday in Florida. "It's been six months of frustration trying to get people to really take this very seriously," said Peter Hotez, dean of the NaA tionA al School of TropA icA al MediA cine at Baylor ColA lege of MediA cine.

Big Pharma is jacking up the price of the – antidote’ to…

While the law was undoubtedly a step forward for a gridlocked Congress, it won't affect one of the crisis' most intractable problems - the skyrocketing price of naloxone, a drug that instantly reverses overdoses. A report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January revealed that drug overdose deaths reached a new high in 2014 , totaling 47,055 people.

No HIV Screenings for Refugees in Past 6 Years

None of the estimated 400,000 refugees who have entered the United States since 2010 were screened for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in their overseas medical screenings, thanks to a change in federal regulations made by the Obama administration that year. Even though all refugees are encouraged to participate in an initial domestic medical screening that does include HIV testing within 90 days of entering the country, no one knows how many HIV positive refugees have arrived in the United States in the subsequent six and a half years, since participation in these screenings is voluntary and a significant percentage of refugees simply choose not to be screened.

Public Health Matters Blog – Global Health Security: How is the U.S. doing?

The Joint External Evaluation Team joins U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture colleagues in front of the Humphrey Building, Washington DC, May 2016 At first glance, this photo taken on a set of concrete steps in Washington, D.C., may look like an ordinary group shot-but it took an extraordinary series of events to make it happen. The photo shows colleagues from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture standing alongside a team of 15 international experts from 13 different countries, known as the Joint External Evaluation Team .

Congress dawdles on Zika as U.S. threat grows

In late February, the White House asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency money to stem the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which at the time had been tentatively linked to birth defects in South America. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has concluded that the virus does cause birth defects, including microcephaly.

Zika highlights Puerto Rico’s fiscal woes

Puerto Rico is facing three converging crises demanding congressional attention: hundreds of cases of Zika, a $72 billion fiscal disaster and growing financial concerns about its Medicaid program. As lawmakers consider a $1.1 billion package to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus that causes birth defects, the territory's long-standing problems with funding its joint federal-state health insurance program for the poor are coming to a head.

2 Million U.S. Pregnant Women Could Be At Risk Of Zika. Congress Is Twiddling Its Thumbs.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden steps away form the podium during a press conference at a one-day Zika summit The continental United States is on the cusp of summer, and with it, the rising threat of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. In February, President Obama asked Congress for $1.9 billion to prepare for the fight against the rapidly-approaching virus, which can cause severe brain abnormalities in children when pregnant women are infected.

Tricky talks ahead on measures to battle Zika

Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate are facing tricky negotiations with each other and the White House over how to handle the public health threat posed by the Zika virus. In the House, a partisan 241-184 vote Wednesday night to pass a $622 million bill to battle the Zika virus puts conservative-dominated House members at odds with senators who have embraced a bipartisan compromise that President Barack Obama can live with.

House approves $622M bill to fight Zika virus amid Obama veto threat

House Republicans on Wednesday pushed through a $622 million bill to battle the Zika virus, setting up challenging negotiations with the Senate and the White House. The 241-184 House vote broke mostly along party lines as Democrats lined up in opposition, heeding a White House veto threat and a warning from a top government health official that the bill wouldn't do enough to respond to the growing threat from Zika.

CDC director Freiden warns GOP Zika bill is inadequate

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., left, accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks about Zika funding during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., left, accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks about Zika funding during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

New CDC Director questioned about financial conflicts

A U.S. Senator is criticizing the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for an apparent financial conflict of interest that the senator says may prevent the director from doing her job. Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald became director of the Atlanta-based CDC in July, and was required to sell a range of stocks she owned, including beer and soda companies, the tobacco company Philip Morris International, and a number of health care companies such as vaccine manufacturers and health-care companies.

CDC Media Telebriefing on 2008 Preliminary FoodNet Data

Release of "Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food - 10 States, 2009," which is being published in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . David Goldman, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Administrator, Office of Public Health Science, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service The new report highlights foodborne illness disease trends and growing foodborne illness challenges.