The Big Cities Health Coalition — which includes 28 of the largest public health departments in the country — has called upon Congress to pass the President's request for $1.8 billion in emergency funding to help the U.S. respond to and combat the growing Zika virus crisis.
BCHC public health departments represent roughly one in six Americans. Many of these organizations already have efforts in place to educate the public and healthcare providers about Zika, help eradicate potential vectors and screen travelers from countries where the outbreak has surfaced.
According to Chrissie Juliano, director of BCHC, several of the nation's big cities already have confirmed cases of the Zika virus and their health departments are tasked with the responsibility of preparing for and containing the outbreak.
"Congress must ensure that emergency dollars reach cities quickly because that is where the action will be taken to prevent and respond to this mosquito-borne virus. But we urge Congress to go beyond that," said Ms. Juliano. "Putting out fires with emergency funding is neither a sound nor effective strategy. It's time to put sustained funding in place to strengthen our public health system so that our nation is prepared for whatever comes next."
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