Dr. Anand Parekh, senior advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center, joined Federalist Radio to discuss the Zika virus including its origin, it’s impact on pregnant women and children, and what lawmakers are or are not doing to combat it.
“For the last 18 months this has really been a real pubic health concern, and the concern is really focused pregnant women because this virus is the first mosquito-born virus that we know definitely can potentially lead to birth defect,” Parekh said.
Compared to other pandemics in recent years such as Ebola or Swine Flu, the government has had a more difficult time reaching a consensus about the Zika. “Is it because the public hasn’t been as informed? Is this caught in election year politics?” he said. “There is a lot of tension in congress to support the effort to provide funding.”
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