President Obama calls for Rapid Development of Tests, Vaccines and Treatments to fight Zika Virus

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama called for the quick development of tests, vaccines and treatments for battling the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus. The virus has been associated with birth defects. It is expected that the virus may spread to the United States in hotter months.

While citing the latest study, the US health officials are estimating that the virus may reach areas where 60% of the US population lives. They have decided to increase their efforts to study the relation between Zika virus infections and birth defects. Top health and national security officials briefed Obama on the potential spread of the virus on Tuesday.

In a statement, the White House said, “The president emphasized the need to accelerate research efforts to make available better diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves from infection”.

In thousands of babies in Brazil, the virus has been associated with brain damage. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya, which results into mild fever and rash. Out of all the infected people, an estimated 80% have no symptoms, which made it difficult for expectant women to know if they have been infected or not.

The World Health Organization forecasted on Monday that the virus would spread to all countries in the Americas except for Chile and Canada.

National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins cited a Lancet study published on January 14, in a blog post, wherein researchers have predicted that the Zika virus may spread in areas along the East and West Coasts of the United States and in most of the parts of the Midwest during hotter months, where nearly 200 million people live.