Letter to Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., MPH, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health - Urge for CDC and NIH to Further Study Zika Virus
Letter
Dear Director Frieden and Director Fauci,
I am writing concerning reports that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are working to address the Zika virus. I appreciate your leadership at the CDC and NIH. Our nation's health security relies heavily on the thorough research and useful resources that your organizations provide. I commend your efforts to advance medical research and enhance the lives of the people around the world.
I share your concern about Zika virus, a vector-born disease primarily transmitted through mosquitoes, although some reports suggest transmission is possible through infected blood or sexual contact. While the illness is usually mild and deaths are rare, recent reports have suggested a link between the Zika virus and other serious health disorders. Specifically, the virus has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that could cause paralysis, as well as birth defects as a result from infected pregnant women, such as microcephaly.
As you know, there is no vaccine available to prevent the Zika virus, nor are there treatments. Thousands of cases have emerged throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. With the World Health Organization's recent announcement of the virus "spreading explosively" and recently reported cases in the United States, it is imperative we take preventative measures to ensure the safety of all Americans. I urge the CDC and NIH to continue their medical research to halt the spread and infection of the Zika virus, and request that you keep the public informed of your efforts to better understand and mitigate the danger it poses. I stand ready to help in any way I can be of assistance.
I thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. I look forward to working with you to improve research on the Zika virus and to bring about much-needed additional prevention tactics and treatments for patients.
Sincerely,
Chris Van Hollen
Member of Congress
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