US officials are warning that the threat from the Zika virus to the US is "scarier" than originally thought.
In a joint presentation, officials from the National Instituties of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Zika could spread to 30 different states and is being linked to an increasing number of physical and mental impairments in babies.
These include microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and vision imparements.
Last week, the Obama Administration decided to redirect nearly $600 million in funding from Ebola research to fighting Zika, but NIH Director Dr. Anthony Fauci warned much more money is needed to properly combat the disease.
He said if Congress doesn't allocate more funds for Zika, other programs including research into malaria, tubercluosis, and the universal flu vaccine will suffer.
IN: "If we..."
OUT: "...suffer badly."
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Principal Deputy Director of the CDC Dr. Anne Schuchat [PRON: Shook-it] said the island of Puerto Rico is especially at risk.
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OUT: "...babies."
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Principal Deputy Director of the CDC Dr. Anne Schuchat [PRON: Shook-it] said US states need to be prepared in case of a wide-spread epidemic.
IN: "Everything we..."
OUT: "...for that."
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