Hirono, Ige Raise Zika Awareness
The senator and the governor also call for聽additional federal money聽“to prepare for and fight” the virus in Hawaii and across the country.
U.S. Sen.聽Mazie Hirono and Hawaii Gov.聽David Ige joined forces on Monday to continue the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
Along with Health Department Director聽Virginia Pressler and other officials, the leaders called聽for increased public awareness and additional federal resources “to prepare for and fight” the Zika virus in Hawaii and across the rest of the United States.
鈥淎s Hawaii continues to recover from the recent dengue fever outbreak, we must act before the Zika virus poses a major threat to Hawaii families,鈥 Hirono said in a statement.
She added, 鈥淪topping a widespread U.S. Zika outbreak requires a comprehensive approach and that鈥檚 why I鈥檒l continue to push for action on the President鈥檚 emergency funding request to fund vector control, education programs, and vaccine development in Hawaii.鈥
For his part, the governor said, 鈥淲e all have a stake in preventing the Zika virus and other mosquito borne illnesses from taking hold in Hawaii. We must continue our collaboration and coordinated statewide fight against these illnesses, and with much needed support from the federal government, we will work to reduce the risks here in Hawaii and across the country.”
Their remarks came after Hirono and Ige toured聽Hawaii Biotech鈥檚 facility, where researchers are working聽to develop a Zika vaccine.
