Anthony S. Fauci, MD, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Tom Frieden, MD, CDC director, called on Congress for immediate funding to fight the Zika epidemic, according to NBC.
Here are five takeaways:
1. Drs. Fauci and Frieden reported the virus causes worse birth defects than anticipated and most likely causes Guillain-Barre syndrome.
2. The virus is bound to infect a lot more people because the mosquitoes carrying the virus are resistant to some insecticides.
3. A Zika vaccine will not exist for more than a year.
4. President Barack Obama asked for $1.9 billion to fight the virus, but Congress is dragging its feet.
5. Both organizations are pulling efforts from other projects to focus on fighting the Zika virus, but they urge Congress to help the effort.
