The incidence of the Zika virus is reaching high levels in certain areas close to the United States.  The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito and has been found recently in areas of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.  Zika in pregnant women is thought to be associated with microcephaly in infants which is a sign that the baby is born with a smaller brain which can result in medical programs and impaired development.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Zika inflected mosquitos could reach the lower part of the United States in 2016, and there are efforts underway to ensure that communities in the United States can accurately respond to the disease.

 

Congress is currently considering a $1.9 billion supplemental funding request from the President on the mitigation of the Zika virus in the United States and internationally.  It is critical that at least a portion of the funding provided reach Tribal communities directly.  Congressman Grijlava (D-AZ) and Congresswoman Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) are circulating a sign on letter to House leadership requesting that any supplemental funding for Zika virus mitigation contain dedicated and sustained funding streams, in parity with states, for vector control in Tribal communities. 

 

To determine your Representative, please visit www.house.gov

 

We hope that you will take the time to support this important issue for Indian Country.

 

Please contact Michelle Castagne, Congressional Relations Associate with NIHB, at [email protected] or (202) 507-4083 with any questions.