Engel Statement on The Zika Virus

Statement

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement on the Zika virus:

"We shouldn't allow the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Zika virus to spark a panic. Domestic and international health experts are taking this issue seriously, and I'm committed to working in Congress to ensure that this outbreak is dealt with quickly and competently.

"President Obama's recent meeting with top U.S. health officials and today's announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) of an emergency meeting on Zika are good steps. I encourage continued efforts to address the issue head-on. This challenge will require enhanced research, substantial resources, interagency cooperation, and coordinated efforts to ensure that clear information reaches the public as quickly as possible. I have long called for increased engagement with our partners in the Americas, and at this difficult time, the United States must assist our neighbors as they continue to fight the Zika virus."

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