Fear of Zika virus spreads through Puerto Rico

Americas Now

A virus spread by mosquitoes and linked to brain damage in infants, has been declared an epidemic in Latin America. Now health officials are calling it a dire situation in the U.S.
Correspondent Jessica Stone reports from Puerto Rico on the acceleration of Zika Fear.

Whether via mosquito or through sexual transmission, the Zika virus is now working its way across the U.S. mainland. Florida is now reporting local transmissions of the illness. But for months, Puerto Rico has been ground zero for the fight against Zika on American soil. Washington has declared a public health emergency there, as the caseload skyrockets. The White House has requested more than $1 billion dollars to fight Zika domestically and internationally. But the U.S. Congress has refused to vote on it. In the meantime, the nation’s healthcare system is trying to find extra money it can use to develop a vaccine.

Check out Jessica Stone’s report from San Juan to find out why the fight over Zika is so complex.

Fear of Zika virus spreads through Puerto Rico

A virus spread by mosquitoes and linked to brain damage in infants, has been declared an epidemic in Latin America. Now health officials are calling it a dire situation in the U.S. Correspondent Jessica Stone reports from Puerto Rico on the acceleration of Zika Fear. Whether via mosquito or through sexual transmission, the Zika virus is now working its way across the U.S. mainland. Florida is now reporting local transmissions of the illness. But for months, Puerto Rico has been ground zero for the fight against Zika on American soil. Washington has declared a public health emergency there, as the caseload skyrockets. The White House has requested more than $1 billion dollars to fight Zika domestically and internationally. But the U.S. Congress has refused to vote on it. In the meantime, the nation’s healthcare system is trying to find extra money it can use to develop a vaccine. Check out Jessica Stone’s report from San Juan to find out why the fight over Zika is so complex.