I’m normally really excited for the summer but this year I’m a little freaked out! Warm weather means mosquitoes. And if you have been paying attention to the news lately, you know that mosquitoes could potentially be carrying the Zika virus that has been causing birth defects! Scary stuff!

As Zika is spreading across South America, one question springs to mind: Is the United States ready for this? Sadly the answer is—likely not!

But if enough people speak out, we can change that!

**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!

President Obama has sent a request to Congress to pass emergency funding for Zika. They have agreed to reallocate almost $600 million left over from Ebola prevention and treatment. Still, that might not be enough! The Obama Administration thinks we need closer to $1.9 billion to prepare for a potential Zika outbreak in the United States. 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.

Even worse, Congress seems to be dragging its feet on even the small amount they have agreed to allocate, even when experts are saying we will need far more! Recent reports state that Congress won’t get around to funding Zika prevention, research, and treatment, including a potential vaccine, until September, but we can’t wait! We need that money ASAP since millions of pregnant women and women of childbearing age could potentially be affected by Zika. It’s outrageous that Congress is failing to take this issue seriously!

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 $1.9 billion 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. 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?

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