Zika Virus

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I agree with Representative Graham that we must fund this and we must fund a clean bill. Whatever it takes, Madam Speaker, we have to get this done as soon as possible.

I have been focused on the growing problem of Zika since March, when the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on Zika preparedness, and we have been working together in a bipartisan fashion to get this done.

Zika is a unique problem that will only increase. As of the end of August, there were 2,686 cases of travel-associated Zika within the United States. These cases came from international travel where the individual acquired Zika abroad and discovered it when they returned to the United States.

There have also been 35 cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne Zika. As a matter of fact, we have a nontravel-related case in our county, Pinellas County.

There are 35 individuals who got Zika because a mosquito bit them within the United States. Because of this local transmission for the first time ever, we now have a CDC travel advisory about an area within the United States in the Miami area.

If you expand the incidences of Zika to include the territories, there would be 14,059 cases of locally acquired infections of Zika. Mr. Speaker, this is a large amount. We must act now. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has nearly 14,000 cases of locally acquired Zika. That number will only grow, unfortunately.

624 women within the United States had Zika while pregnant, and 971 women from the territories. We don't know the full impact that Zika will have on their infants. Already, CDC reports that 16 infants have been born with birth defects within the United States. I don't know how many more when we include the territories.

Zika can cause microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby's head is smaller than expected when compared to other babies. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

People are really scared, Madam Speaker. We have to get this done in a bipartisan fashion.

Not all babies who have been exposed to Zika while in utero, have been born with visible birth defects.

However, we cannot say that they were born without any effect of Zika.

It is possible that they may have delayed development.

That's why I plan on introducing tomorrow, the Pregnant Women and Infants Zika Registry.

This bill will establish a CDC registry program for pregnant women and will track infants up to age five, so that researchers can get a better understanding of the impact of Zika.

This registry will collect information on pregnancy and infant outcomes following laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

The data collected will be used to update recommendations for clinical care, to plan for services for pregnant women and families affected by the Zika virus, and to improve prevention of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

I invite all my fellow Floridians and fellow members to cosponsor this bill.

It's a responsible tool to increase our knowledge of Zika and help increase the quality and standard of care for patients.

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, hopefully I get an opportunity to speak and continue tomorrow. General Leave

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