In the AP story that just came out an hour ago there was this tidbit of information:
(ap story) Puerto Rico has a total of 8,776 Zika cases, with 1,480 new cases reported this past week. There are now 901 pregnant women with Zika, which has been linked to severe birth defects.
This the first we've heard of such large numbers as far as I recall. Between 1 and 13% of children born with microcephaly? This is a civilization changing epidemic being treated like a political nuisance.
I agree that " This is a civilization changing epidemic being treated like a political nuisance ".
And yet , there are other FReepers here who would state that it is a contrived crisis causing undeserved medical concern,
not realizing that the mosquito has been found in 40 mainland States, and represents a real threat.
Also, there are the financial concerns: all healthcare is paid through taxation,
microcephaly, while still statistically small, will require life-long Social Security Disability, special eduction, and life-long caregivers, depnding upon severity.
Given the fact that we recently learned about Zika virus continues to reside in male gonads for 4-6 months, there is still much to learn.
The initial political concern had to do with unspent Ebola funds that were sheltered by the CDC, while they asked for additional funds for Zika study and containment.
Most people have not yet understood the true financial, social, and political impact that Zika babies will have on society,
as there are physiological, developmental, and neurological issues not yet known, depending upon when ,during pregnancy, the virus was contracted.