The Zika virus has officially arrived in the U.S. There are now 472 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the U.S. and while all the infections so far have been contracted or associated with travel to South or Central America, there is reason for concern: A few days ago we learned that two babies with Zika virus-related microcephaly have been born in the U.S.

*Urge the U.S. Congress to move quickly to address the threat of the Zika virus!

As the official start of summer has arrived, and along with it mosquitos that could spread Zika, we are unprepared for a potential outbreak and the U.S. Congress is continuing to drag their feet on emergency funding for the prevention, research, and treatment of the Zika virus.

Enough is enough! We need to speak out!

**We need YOU to speak out today to tell the U.S. Congress to pass emergency funding for prevention and treatment of the Zika virus!

So much is still unknown about the illness, but here's what we do know:  

• Key health officials expect an outbreak in the United States this summer
• The symptoms could be mild and last only a week, however Zika virus infections during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other sever fetal brain defects, according to the CDC. It also likely doesn’t matter at what time in the pregnancy a woman is infected, her baby could suffer serious consequences
• It's sexually transmitted and may be a possible cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome (an illness of the nervous system that could lead to muscle weakness or paralysis)
• There are 472 confirmed cases of Zika so far in the U.S. (all of these cases are travel-related infections, contracted or associated with travel abroad, and did not originate in the U.S.), including two newborns in Hawaii and New Jersey with Zika virus-related microcephaly

But the rest is unknown—including possible treatments. 

***This is why we need YOU to take action right away and tell your members of Congress to pass emergency funding for the prevention and to research treatment of the Zika virus!

Here’s what’s happening: President Obama has sent a request to Congress to pass emergency funding for Zika. The Obama Administration thinks we need around to $1.9 billion to prepare for a Zika outbreak in the United States. The U.S. Senate has already passed a bi-partisan bill, which allocates $1.1 billion to Zika, but the U.S. House of Representatives is considering a completely inadequate bill of only $622.1 million. There is bipartisan support for the higher amount of funding that the President proposed. Senator Marco Rubio (FL) said, “[Officials in my state] are freaked out about the Zika thing. I don’t know any other term to use. If they are freaked out, then I’m very concerned about it as well. And that’s why I do support fully and immediately funding the situation.” Major cuts to public health funding have already left health departments unable to deal with a serious outbreak of the Zika virus should that happen. We need federal funding to combat Zika and we need it now!

U.S. health officials need this emergency money so they can launch a major public health campaign. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that a significant number of Americans have heard only a little or nothing at all about the Zika virus and even less are aware of the possible tests available to diagnose Zika. In addition, the billions of dollars in funding could be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, and research Zika, including finding a vaccine for the virus. Without it, quite frankly, we are unprepared for a known health crisis.

We can’t wait! Tell Congress we need them to pass emergency funding NOW to combat, research, and treat Zika!

As we all know, mosquitos are at their most dangerous in the summer months. The CDC has already issued travel advisories on more than 40 countries and territories where local transmission of Zika has been reported. Most health officials are warning pregnant women and women wishing to conceive to avoid visiting these areas, but what happens if Zika ends up the United States? We need to be prepared! A recent study found that as the weather heats up in parts of the country and mosquito season begins, the Zika virus may migrate to the United States. Cities in southern Florida and Texas are at especially high risk, but the virus could spread as far as New York.

Write Congress TODAY and tell them to pass emergency funding as soon as possible to combat, research, and treat Zika!

What is Zika? It is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. The symptoms could be mild and last only a week, however Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects, according to the CDC.  It is also believed that Zika may be a possible cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults (an illness of the nervous system that could lead to muscle weakness or paralysis). So far there is no cure for Zika, nor a vaccine to prevent it, which is why this emergency funding from Congress is even more important than ever.

We don’t want to cause undo panic, but our country’s health officials think it is best that we be prepared and we believe Congress should listen to them!

**Write Congress TODAY and tell them to pass emergency funding for Zika as soon as possible!

Congress won’t listen unless we make a whole lot of noise! When you are done taking action, can you please post the action link to Facebook  and Twitter and forward this blog to your friends and family?

Thank you for standing up for moms, pregnant women, kids, and families on this important issue!