The Zika epidemic and the birth defects it's causing are both the fault of governments that abandoned programs to control mosquitoes and to provide even the most basic family planning assistance to young women, the head of the World Health Organization said Monday.
"Let me give you a stern warning. What we are seeing now looks more and more like a dramatic resurgence of the threat from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The world is not prepared to cope," WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan told a meeting of the World Health Assembly.
Brazilian experts have been pointing out that the country once successfully eliminated the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the Zika, dengue,chikungunya and yellow fever viruses. Then the government simply stopped paying for eradication and prevention, and the mosquitoes came back.
"Above all, the spread of Zika, the resurgence of dengue, and the emerging threat from chikungunya are the price being paid for a massive policy failure that dropped the ball on mosquito control in the 1970s," Chan said.
What's more, the deadly Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa caught the world sleeping, and a yellow fever crisis brewing in West Africa shows an equal lack of even the most basic preparation, Chan said.
The result has been not just one but several epidemics, and now a huge increase in the number of babies born with devastating and incurable birth defects.
Chan's warning echoes what the Obama administration and U.S. health officials have been saying. They charge that public health is not just being underfunded, but cut back at a time when it should be built up to help protect people against new threats like Zika.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday said it was watching or had been watching 279 pregnant women infected with Zika. They risk having babies with birth defects because of the infection.
And they say more Zika cases are almost certain to come as summer heats up and mosquito season gets under way. The administration is in a desperate fightwith Republicans in Congress over funding for Zika preparations.
"It is not a question of whether babies will be born in the United States with Zika-related microcephaly — it is a question of when and how many," Ron Klain, the former U.S. Ebola czar, wrote in a commentary in the Washington Post over the weekend.
See the 50 cities most at risk of a Zika epidemic:
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50 cities with the most risk for Zika
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The Zika virus is basically our fault, WHO chief says
#50. Midland, Texas
Risk level: 1.38
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 161,290
Photo courtesy: Getty
#49. Yuma, Ariz.
Risk level: 1.38
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 203,247
Photo courtesy: Getty
#48. Laredo, Texas
Risk level: 1.38
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 266,673
Photo courtesy: Getty
#47. El Paso, Texas
Risk level: 1.41
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 836,698
Photo courtesy: Getty
#46. Bakersfield, Calif.
Risk level: 1.42
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 874,589
Photo courtesy: Getty
#45. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Risk level: 1.42
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 904,587
Photo courtesy: Getty
#44. Tucson, Ariz.
Risk level: 1.42
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,004,516
Photo courtesy: Getty
#43. Salt Lake City, Utah
Risk level: 1.43
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,153,340
Photo courtesy: Getty
#42. Fresno, Calif.
Risk level: 1.93
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 965,974
Photo courtesy: Getty
#41. Las Vegas, Nev.
Risk level: 1.99
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 2,069,681
Photo courtesy: Getty
#40. Sacramento, Calif.
Risk level: 2
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 2,244,397
Photo courtesy: Getty
#39. San Antonio, Texas
Risk level: 2.03
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 2,328,652
Photo courtesy: Getty
#38. Denver, Colo.
Risk level: 2.2
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 2,754,258
Photo courtesy: Getty
#37. San Diego, Calif.
Risk level: 2.4
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 3,263,431
Photo courtesy: Getty
#36. Phoenix, Ariz.
Risk level: 2.89
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 4,489,109
Photo courtesy: Getty
#35. Montgomery, Ala.
Risk level: 3.92
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 373,141
Photo courtesy: Getty
#34. Huntsville, Ala.
Risk level: 3.94
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 441,086
Photo courtesy: Getty
#33. Shreveport, La.
Risk level: 3.95
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 445,142
Photo courtesy: Getty
#32. Fayetteville, Ark.
Risk level: 3.97
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 501,653
Photo courtesy: Getty
#31. Jackson, Miss.
Risk level: 4
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 577,564
Photo courtesy: Getty
#30. Augusta, Ga.
Risk level: 4
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 583,632
Photo courtesy: Getty
#29. Little Rock, Ark.
Risk level: 4.24
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 729,135
Photo courtesy: Getty
#28. Columbia, SC
Risk level: 4.36
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 800,495
Photo courtesy: Getty
#27. Birmingham, Ala.
Risk level: 4.93
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,143,772
Photo courtesy: Getty
#26. Raleigh, NC
Risk level: 5.09
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,242,974
Photo courtesy: Getty
#25. Richmond, Va.
Risk level: 5.12
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,260,029
Photo courtesy: Getty
#24. Louisville, Ky.
Risk level: 5.13
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,269,702
Photo courtesy: Getty
#23. Oklahoma City, Okla.
Risk level: 5.25
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,336,767
Photo courtesy: Getty
#22. Memphis, Tenn.
Risk level: 5.26
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,343,230
Photo courtesy: Getty
#21. Nashville, Tenn.
Risk level: 6
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,792,649
Photo courtesy: Getty
#20. Kansas City, Mo.
Risk level: 6.04
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 2,071,133
Photo courtesy: Getty
#19. St. Louis, Mo.
Risk level: 6.13
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 2,806,207
Photo courtesy: Getty
#18. Dallas, Texas
Risk level: 7.11
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000 Population: 6,954,330
Photo courtesy: Getty
#17. Charlotte, NC
Risk level: 7.38
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 2,380,314
Photo courtesy: Getty
#16. Washington, D.C.
Risk level: 7.86
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 6,033,737
Photo courtesy: Getty
#15. Philadelphia, Pa.
Risk level: 7.86
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000 Population: 6,052,170
Photo courtesy: Getty
#14. Los Angeles, Calif.
Risk level: 7.93
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Low Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000 Population: 13,262,220
Photo courtesy: Getty
#13. Savannah, Ga.
Risk level: 7.99
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 372,708
Photo courtesy: Getty
#12. Tallahassee, Fla.
Risk level: 7.99
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 375,751
Photo courtesy: Getty
#11. Mobile, Ala.
Risk level: 8
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 415,123
Photo courtesy: Getty
#10. Charleston, SC
Risk level: 8
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 727,689
Photo courtesy: Getty
#9. New Orleans, La.
Risk level: 8.01
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,251,849
Photo courtesy: Getty
#8. Atlanta, Ga.
Risk level: 8.13
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000 Population: 5,614,323
Photo courtesy: Getty
#7. Houston, Texas
Risk level: 8.14
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000 Population: 6,490,180
Photo courtesy: Getty
#6. Jacksonville, Fla.
Risk level: 8.38
Mosquito level in January: Low Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 1,419,127
Photo courtesy: Getty
#5. New York, NY
Risk level: 8.49
Mosquito level in January: None Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 1,000,000-2,000,000 Population: 20,092,883
Photo courtesy: Getty
#4. Brownsville, Texas
Risk level: 8.86
Mosquito level in January: Low Mosquito level in July: Moderate Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 420,392
Photo courtesy: Getty
#3. Tampa, Fla.
Risk level: 9.14
Mosquito level in January: Low Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000 Population: 2,915,582
Photo courtesy: Getty
#2. Orlando, Fla.
Risk level: 9.43
Mosquito level in January: Low Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000 Population: 2,321,418
Photo courtesy: Getty
#1. Miami, Fla.
Risk level: 10
Mosquito level in January: Moderate Mosquito level in July: High Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 1,000,000-2,000,000 Population: 5,929,819
Photo courtesy: Getty
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"For years to come, these children will be a visible, human reminder of the cost of absurd wrangling in Washington, of preventable suffering, of a failure of our political system to respond to the threat that infectious diseases pose."
Chan said WHO has been trying to help the world prepare for new outbreaks of disease with its International Health Regulations, which require all countries to intensify their internal monitoring for diseases and then report what they find. But countries have not paid for or implemented them properly, she said.
Chan has also admitted to WHO's failure in the Ebola epidemic. Several reports say both the WHO and the U.S. have failed to prepare properly for outbreaks of new disease, and have failed to act quickly enough when disease does break out.
"For Ebola, it was the absence of even the most basic infrastructures and capacities for surveillance, diagnosis, infection control, and clinical care, unaided by any vaccines or specific treatments," Chan said.
Experts have said Ebola spread in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in no small part because the countries had almost no health infrastructure. "For Zika, we are again taken by surprise, with no vaccines and no reliable and widely available diagnostic tests," Chan said.
"The possibility that a mosquito bite during pregnancy could be linked to severe brain abnormalities in newborns alarmed the public and astonished scientists," she added.
Yet there is little on offer to help women. "To protect women of childbearing age, all we can offer is advice. Avoid mosquito bites. Delay pregnancy. Do not travel to areas with ongoing transmission," Chan said. "Zika reveals an extreme consequence of the failure to provide universal access to sexual and family planning services. Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest proportion of unintended pregnancies anywhere in the world."
Last week, WHO said the spread of yellow fever in Africa wasn't quite yet a public health emergency but said it was of great concern. Yellow fever linked to Angola has killed 300 people and is being spread to other countries.
"The lesson from yellow fever is especially brutal. The world failed to use an excellent preventive tool to its full strategic advantage," Chan said. That would be a cheap and highly effective yellow fever vaccine. WHO and nonprofit groups are now encouraging governments in a mass yellow fever vaccination campaign.
Chan says governments need to give full political support — and money — to the International health regulations program. "Anything short of full political and financial support for the program will handicap the WHO response, right now and into the future," she said.
