WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today held a hearing examining the U.S. Public Health Response to the Zika virus. Nine witnesses provided testimony, including Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Nicole Lurie, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen, is currently rampaging through South and Central America and in total, has spread to more than 48 countries and territories," stated Chairman Murphy. “While as of late February there had been no known locally acquired mosquito-borne cases reported in the continental U.S., over 100 travel-associated Zika virus disease cases have been identified in over 20 states. Public health officials in the U.S. are bracing for the time when Zika passes from a traveler with Zika in his or her blood to a local mosquito, and then to another person."
Dr. Fauci testified, “In response to public health concerns about Zika virus, NIAID has accelerated ongoing flavivirus research efforts to speed the development of tools that could help control current and future outbreaks of Zika virus." He also highlighted the importance of having accurate diagnostic tests for the virus, to better identify if pregnant women infected with the virus may be at risk for complications.
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) asked the health officials if there was a treatment available at present for a pregnant woman testing positive for the virus. After officials confirmed there was no such treatment available today, Rep. Collins continued by saying, “There’s been some studies done that show women with a history of breast cancer in the families, and some women will decide to forego the test for fear of what the test will show. Especially if there may not be a treatment. So if you’re a pregnant woman, and there is no treatment if you test positive, is there some worry - there are women who just for their own sanity would opt to not be tested." Dr. Frieden responded saying those decisions would be up to the pregnant woman and her physician. Dr. Fauci echoed that sentiment, saying that given the amount of concern about the virus, there is a huge demand for information - which would be up to the doctor and patient to then act upon.
“A lot of times we think we’re invincible," added Collins, who stressed during the second panel of witnesses the need for information to be made readily available to patients in their doctors’ offices.
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) asked the agencies what they are doing to support and facilitate platform-based technologies to counteract emerging threats. Dr. Lurie responded and spoke to the agency’s efforts to “move away from one bug, one drug," and instead explore a wider range of treatments.
An important topic of discussion during the hearing was the administration’s emergency supplemental appropriation request to respond to Zika both domestically and internationally. Members raised questions about how the emergency supplemental would address concerns about fragmented mosquito control efforts and limited testing capacity in the nation’s public health system. Committee leaders plan to follow up with administration officials with more questions about this funding request.
The subcommittee also received testimony from a panel of non-Federal expert witnesses representing the fields of tropical infectious diseases, maternal-fetal medicine, mosquito vector control, and international responses to the Zika virus.
Additional information on today’s hearing, including the Majority Memorandum, witness testimony, and an archived video can be found here. Related Items
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