In what could turn into a national health crisis if the Zika virus became a major multi-state outbreak, Frieden said, “Basically, we are out of money and we need Congress to act.” He added, “The cupboard is bare.”
As of Friday last week, the CDC has spent $194 million of the $222 million it was allocated to fight the virus. Frieden also said that while the CDC has provided Zika-hit Florida with everything it needs, “We don’t have any more resources to give.” According to the Washington Post, by late September, what’s left of the $222 million will be gone.
More money could be needed, in Florida, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere because right now, we are in the peak of the mosquito season, which doesn’t end until late October. Puerto Rico is in the midst of a full-blown Zika epidemic, with Florida not far behind.
Travelers have brought the virus into almost every state, and 26 states where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are common, are at risk for having outbreaks. The CDC has already sent $35 million to Florida with most of that money spent on mosquito eradication.
But, as Frieden points out, if Florida has a new cluster of cases, or if a cluster of cases pops up in another state, the CDC won’t be able to send emergency funds, according to the New York Times.
Will Congress vote to give CDC emergency funds?
Congress is scheduled to vote on a $1.1 billion Zika package on Tuesday next week. Last February, President Obama asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funds to fight Zika. But Republicans have been resisting approving the funds, and the Zika package now up for a vote keeps Planned Parenthood off the list of agencies requesting funding for contraception as a virus preventative.
The Republicans, insisting on better government accountability, also say that health agencies, including the CDC, should use funds left over from fighting Ebola and other projects. So far, there is no hint as to how the vote will go on the emergency spending package at this time.
On Tuesday, Florida health officials announced three new locally-acquired Zika cases in Miami-Dade County. One of the cases was in Miami beach where the virus is already circulating. The state is investigating where the other two cases occurred.
