What Is The Private Sector Doing To Help Fight Zika?

Golfer Rory McIlroy, from Northern Ireland and one of the top golfers in the world, stated this week that he would not be participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. According to USA Today, McIlroy explained that “even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.” What is being done by the private sector to help not only Olympic athletes going to Brazil, but numerous other people affected by this virus in Brazil and other countries, including the United States? According to a June 6 (updated June 8) whitehouse.gov blog post by Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “business leaders and philanthropic organizations are taking action to protect the American people,” and Congress should also. (Meanwhile, news reports today say that Congress is continuing to debate the subject.) Frieden notes that Zika “is an emergency that we need to address.” It will require everyone—“leaders in both the public and private sectors—to ensure [that] we mount a robust and comprehensive response in the United States.” The CDC Foundation, a nonprofit “that builds private sector partnerships to help [the] CDC protect more people,” has been contacting business and philanthropy to help Americans protect themselves from the virus, and Frieden adds, “the response has been enthusiastic and generous.” By going to the private sector, the CDC ...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Global Health GrantWatch Public Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Consumers Health Philanthropy Health Promotion and Disease PreventionGW Medicaid Politics Puerto Rico Zika virus Source Type: blogs