Obama asks congress for emergency funds
The White House says it will ask Congress for $1.8 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus: $828 million for the CDC to increase research into Zika, monitor the disease, and improve testing programs; $250 million to expand health programs in Puerto Rico, where the virus has already taken hold; $200 million is for vaccine research; $335 million for the US Agency for International Development to support Zika control efforts abroad; and $210 million to establish a new Urgent and Emerging Threat Fund that would build readiness in case other mosquito populations — like the Aedes albopictus — start carrying Zika to new states. President Obama:
The good news is this is not like Ebola, people don’t die of Zika. A lot of people get it and don’t even know that they have it.
France curbs blood transfusions
French Health Minister Touraine says travellers coming back from any outbreak zones of the Zika virus will need to wait at least 28 days before giving blood to avoid any risk of transmission, and advises pregnant women to inform the authorities if they had travelled to any of the zones. Eighteen cases have been reported in travellers in France.
Columbia: three deaths linked to nerve disorder
Colombia says three people have died after contracting the Zika virus and developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare nerve disorder. The country’s Health Minister says there is a “causal connection” between Zika, the Guillain-Barre disorder and the three deaths. Health Institute says they are investigating a further six deaths for possible links to Zika.
We have confirmed and attributed three deaths to Zika. In this case, the three deaths were preceded by Guillain-Barre syndrome. Other cases (of deaths linked to Zika) are going to emerge. The world is realising that Zika can be deadly. The mortality rate is not very high, but it can be deadly.
CDC issues safe-sex guidelines
The CDC says men exposed to the Zika virus and who have a pregnant partner should use a condom or abstain from sex until the baby is born, and that pregnant women who have been exposed to Zika should talk with their doctors about testing for the virus. Director Frieden:
Each passing day, the linkage between Zika and microcephaly becomes stronger…The priority is protecting pregnant women. If you’re pregnant, and you’re thinking about traveling to a place were Zika is spreading, please don’t. If you live in an area where Zika is spreading and you’re pregnant, please protect yourself against mosquitoes. That’s the bottom line…We know that four out of five people with Zika will have no symptoms. So our new guidance says pregnant women without symptoms can be offered testing between two to 12 weeks after travel.
Tests include serological blood tests, in addition to the ultrasounds recommended in the CDC’s first round of guidance.
We heard that serial ultrasounds were very challenging to the health community, so we are now rolling out blood test kits.
On reports that the virus can be transmitted through saliva.
We are not issuing guidance on kissing. We take all reports seriously, but we need more information including the methodology of the study. The bottom line is Zika is primarily a mosquito-borne disease.
Brazil: Zika infections from blood transfusions
Brazilian health officials say they have confirmed two cases of transmission of Zika through transfusions of blood from donors. Doctors say genetic testing confirmed that a man who received a blood transfusion using blood from a donor with Zika in March 2015 became infected with the virus, although the patient did not develop symptoms. Earlier, the health department of Campinas, an industrial city near Sao Paulo, said a man with gunshot wounds became infected with Zika after multiple blood transfusions in April 2015 that included blood donated by an infected person.
The two cases can be considered transmission of the virus through blood transfusion, with greater certainty in the first because we did genetic sequencing comparing the virus in the donor and to the virus in the recipient.
Pregnancy case confirmed in Spain
Spain’s health ministry confirms that a pregnant woman in the north-eastern Catalonia region, who recently returned from Columbia, has the virus, the first case in Europe. Spain has reported seven other cases of the virus.
All are in good health. The diagnosed cases of Zika virus in Spain… don’t risk spreading the virus in our country as they are imported cases.
Declares State of Emergency in FL counties with Zika virus
Gov. Scott declares a state of emergency in the four counties where people have been diagnosed with the Zika virus: Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa. Nine people have been diagnosed with Zika in Florida, though health officials believe that all of them contracted the disease outside of the U.S. Scott’s executive order requires the state health officer to “take any action necessary to protect public health” and allows the commissioner of agriculture to issue a “mosquito declaration” in the affected counties to reduce populations of the insects that can spread the disease. Scott:
Although Florida’s current nine Zika cases were travel-related, we have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state.
Asks blood donors to wait 28 days
The American Red Cross asks prospective donors who have visited Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central or South America during the past four weeks to wait at least 28 days before giving blood. The organization says:
The risk of transmission through blood donation continues to be extremely low in the continental U.S.
First US transmission case; through sexual contact
The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States is reported in Dallas, TX. Officials say it was likely was contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite. The person was infected through sexual contact with someone who had traveled to Venezuela. Texas Department of State Health Services:
Case details are being evaluated, but the possibility of sexual transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person is likely in this case.
Iowa primary: second place
Trump comes second in the Iowa Republican primary, with 28% of the vote, compared to Ted Cruz, who gained 28%. Marco Rubio took 23% of the vote. Trump:
We finished second, and I want to tell you something…I’m just honored. I’m really honored. I want to congratulate Ted and I want to congratulate all of the incredible candidates including Mike Huckabee, who’s become a really good friend of mine. Congratulations to everybody…We will go on to get the Republican nomination, and we will go on to beat Hillary or Bernie or whoever the hell they throw up there.
UN denounces Nigeria terror attacks
The UN denounces recent terror attacks in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon. Boko Haram which earlier claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Nigerian school girls is blamed for the latest atrocity.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security…The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these terrorist attacks should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.
Palin: King ‘huffing ethanol’
Palin responds to the accusation that she was bought off by Trump for her endorsement:
Why would a good conservative guy like Steve King, from the heartland of America, want to say something that he knows isn’t true?
Maybe he’s forgotten some of his heart in the heartland. He got a touch of that Potomac fever there in DC. Maybe he’s been out in a cornfield too long huffing ethanol or something.
Sepang testing: May ditch 2016 Yamaha M1
Rossi thinks the 2016 MotoGP YZR-M1 Yamaha’s setup is now too radical for the Michelin tyres which have improved greatly since the last test at Valencia, preferring a version closer to his 2015 setup. Rossi also has a standard 2015 bike to ride.
One bike is the 2015 and I make some lap for the feeling. And after we have two bike, one more similar to the 2015 and one more modified. Today I concentrate on the bike more similar to the 2015 because of time because we have to work on electronic especially. I try the other one one time and the feeling was not so bad but at this moment I don’t know if it is better. The Michelin has improved already and that bike was for the old Michelin so I don’t know now if we need that bike or not.
Wraps up homecoming visit
After spending a week in the Philippines, Wurtzbach returns to the United States to continue fulfilling her responsibilities as Miss Universe.
I’ll be back soon. It’s very sad that I have to leave so soon. But like I said, this is a responsibility and I have duties now. I will continue making all of you proud!
UFC 196 moves to Fox Sports 1
White announces that, due to Cain Velazquez and Fabricio Werdum, pulling out of the main event fight due to injuries, the UFC’s upcoming event will not be a pay-per-view event, but instead will be shown on Fox Sports 1. The original co-main event, Hendricks against Thompson, will headline the upcoming fight card.
Permanent police chief decision on track
Authorities in Ferguson, MO say that they are on track to select a permanent police chief by March of 2016. The department has been without a permanent commander since March of 2015. The person taking on the role will have to work under close scrutiny by the Justice Department as the Ferguson PD works to rebuild their organization as mandated under the aegis of a scathing Justice Department investigation.
Countries warn women to delay pregnancy
Officials in four Latin American and Caribbean countries warn women to delay pregnancy as the consequences of the Zika virus outbreak for developing fetuses become more apparent. During an outbreak of the Zika virus in Brazil, the nation saw an increase of nearly 4,000 infants born with microcephaly. US health authorities have warned pregnant women to avoid travelling to more than 20 countries in the Americas and beyond, where Zika cases have been registered. Colombian health minister:
We are doing this because I believe it’s a good way to communicate the risk, to tell people that there could be serious consequences.
Virus likely to spread across Americas
The WHO warns that the Zika virus is likely to spread across the Americas. The virus has already been found in 21 countries in the Caribbean, North and South America. No treatment or vaccine is available. The virus is spread through the Aedes mosquito. This mosquito is found throughout the Americas with the exceptions of Canada and Chile. 80% of infections do not show symptoms, but there seems to be a link between the virus and impaired fetal development.
Winnings taxable in Philippines
The cash prize and other awards received by Wurtzbach for winning the Miss Universe title are subject to income tax according to Philippine revenue official.
We, too, are elated and proud that she won the Miss Universe title but we have to implement the law. Wurtzbach’s earnings from within and outside the country form part of her gross earnings subject to the maximum income tax rate of 32 percent.
Wurtzbach:
I am aware just like any employee that I have to pay taxes. I have never missed it when I was with ABS-CBN, Binibining Pilipinas. When I start working in the US, I’d be doing that as well.
Rossi/Marquez clash data will not be released
FIM and Honda Racing say that data from the Rossi/Marquez clash at Sepang will not be released. The data relates to claims by Honda that Rossi kicked Marquez, causing the Spaniard to fall. FIM President Ippolito:
In MotoGP, the dispute was brought before the CAS and the case is now closed. It is true that at the end of the season the polemics around the Rossi-Marquez case swelled to unprecedented levels. For that reason, we asked all the people involved, including the teams, to refrain from engaging in controversy about what happened in Sepang.During the last competition in Valencia, team Honda informed us that they had all the telemetry relating to the incident. Now the data are in our hands, and Honda and the FIM have decided together not to release them so as not to fuel further polemics.