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Zika virus a concern for poor urban areas along Gulf Coast

12 Comments
By NOMAAN MERCHANT

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Obama has been asking, and Democrats have been trying to provide, money to combat Zika, but the GOP has been playing its usual game. In order to meet its self-imposed "Hastert rule" (named after the former speaker, now imprisoned for child molestation) - that any bill introduced in the House must attract a majority of Republicans - the bill was larded up with red meat. One provision would exempt pesticides from the Clean Water Act even though pesticides are not used to combat mosquitoes. Another - and more importantly - would prevent the bill's funds from being directed to Planned Parenthood.

Zika affects adults in a non-noticeable or, at worst, a flu-like fashion, but infection of pregnant women can lead to microcephaly, a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than normal because its brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth. Identifying and dealing with such situations is exactly what Planned Parenthood is designed to do.

Another example of GOP dysfunction and disruption.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Identifying and dealing with such situations is exactly what Planned Parenthood is designed to do.

The CDC should get involved. I don't think many Republican babies are being plagued by zika. But, mostly the people who need and depend of "free stuff" all the time.

Another example of GOP dysfunction and disruption

Another example of poverty in the USA. . . where the jellied brains of those who remain to point the finger right at you.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Maybe the Russian athletes should reconsider of wanting to be exempted from the ban now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It just had to be a virus... not a bacteria. It's times like this where US needs to take care of all it's citizens instead of trying to import more in. Not enough money for the poorer areas? Are you kidding? I call that lack of proper prioritization of funds.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How about the communities with garbage pileing up clean up the mess. You don't see garbage heaps in affluent areas, because they don't short dump! The impoverished you can find trash heaps that comes from within.

Broken screens but they'll have a smart phone, alcohol, cigarettes and cable tv.....priorities

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It's times like this where US needs to take care of all it's citizens instead of trying to import more in. Not enough money for the poorer areas? Are you kidding? I call that lack of proper prioritization of funds.

So very true! Case in point, there have been 5 known babies born in the USA with birth defects associated with zika. These children are getting the best treatment there is in the world so far to assist in their lives, at huge costs. Funny thing is, they were all born to women who were not US citizens (the most recent one born is FL was born to a Hatian mother) so automatically they are US citizens, with the ability for their mothers to get the full gamut of medical and social services for the child for the rest of their lives.

Yet, we have poor neighborhoods and areas with these conditions, and it seems we look the other way. The very poor in America, have access to health care and other social services that can put an end to this type of condition. Where we (US) fails as a country, is making sure that the lower to mid-middle class, and middle class are able to get the required services without having to spend themselves into the poor house just to qualify for services. I really feel sorry for those children born with the zika birth defects, but we should not be allowing pregnant women coming from these areas into the USA to give birth to these children and thus straining our resources. In the first case, a mother from Honduras, she traveled to the US to give birth, after her doctor in Honduras had recommended that she seek treatment in the USA, as she explained through an interpreter. That should not be.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me

...but not, it seems, your very young, your disabled, your drastically unprivileged yearning to be healthy.

we should not be allowing pregnant women coming from these areas into the USA to give birth to these children

What are you suggesting? No pregnant women allowed in? No women of child-bearing age allowed in at all, in case they get pregnant/discover they are pregnant during their stay? Mandatory abortions at the Immigration desk? Sewing up of lady parts to prevent unwanted (by you) babies getting out?

she traveled to the US to give birth, after her doctor in Honduras had recommended that she seek treatment in the USA, as she explained through an interpreter. That should not be.

She should ignore her doctor's advice, stay home and have a dead/deformed/disabled baby?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

. . . has already been applied. Doesn't work anymore.

What are you suggesting? No pregnant women allowed in?

Many foreign women come here just for that -the precious "American (by birth) Citizenship." Women from China have practicing this for a while, in fact it became a small business. Just another way foreigners exploit the US on our own dine.

And HRC wants to build more bridges? No thanks.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Not often that I agree with Wc626.

It is big business now in China, etc to organize trips to give birth in the US, something that I think the USA really needs to change.

Do it like most of the World award citizenship based on if one the parents is a citizen, not the place of birth.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is big business now in China, etc to organize trips to give birth in the US, something that I think the USA really needs to change.

I used to live near Rowland Heights, CA where there lots of Chinese. There are apartments rented out under false pretense, where 4-5 pregnant women live in, very soon to be Chinese mums. How long will this, too, be "tolerated"??

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me.

@Cleo, times have changed. I've seen more homeless and struggling Americans than I've seen homeless and struggling Immigrants. I've always said, "How can you take care of others, if you can't even take care of yourself?"

Back in the day, the US was able to help itself and others. Now we're @ capacity and need to start taking care of the people who are already here. I do think the US should help other countries, but instead of opening up our home, we (and other better off nations) need to start helping poorer countries raise themselves up to better living standards so they can take care of their own instead of having their citizens leave for what they see as better countries.

It's time for nations to be capable of taking care of their own people first. The US is no longer in that position and needs to prioritize helping it's citizens first.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Back in the day, the US was able to help itself and others. Now we're @ capacity

The richest country in the world bar none, can't afford to help poor people (whether home-grown or imported)? Pathetic.

The US spends nearly $600 billion - more than the annual GDP of Sweden - a year on the military, well over half its total discretionary budget. You can afford to go overseas to kill people, but you can't afford to give basic care to the sick/poor on your doorstep/in your living room?

Times have indeed changed.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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