The legislation will enable important research to better understand the Zika virus, develop a vaccine and necessary diagnostics, support surveillance, community outreach and health services to pregnant women and affected infants domestically and in countries experiencing outbreaks. We are disappointed that the package fails to replenish resources redirected from other public health needs, including from funds allocated to ongoing impacts of the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak. The infectious disease outbreaks of the last two years alone have underscored the importance of prepared and well equipped health systems. We hope that Congress will add to these essential resources in the near future.
The continuing resolution allows legislators additional time to finish the FY 2017 appropriations process. We ask that going forward Congress advance committee-approved funding increases in its full-year funding bills to address urgent public health threats, including those for efforts to address global tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance.
As infectious diseases clinicians and researchers, IDSA members see firsthand the necessity of a strong public health infrastructure, biomedical research enterprise, and infectious diseases workforce to address current and emerging threats.