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Federal Employees Deployed to Help Control Zika Virus

August 19, 2016

As the government is trying hard to get funds to control the Zika virus, the federal agencies have taken some concrete steps in this direction. The agencies have deployed federal employees to national and international locations to play a key role in preventing and treating the disease. The federal employees deployed to the affected regions have got no extra pay for the work yet.

Which Departments Deployed Federal Employees Yet?

The Health and Human Services Department has sent over 100 federal employees to the Zika affected region in the country and in other nations. Out of the total 105 employees, 65 are deployed at Puerto Rico, 13 at U.S. Virgin Islands, seven at American Samoa and one each at Colombia and Marshall Islands. CDC has deployed its employees at Miami, Tallahassee, FLA, San Diego, El Paso, Houston and Honolulu. The Defense Department has also deployed its personnel to areas that have reported high concentrations of Zika infections.

Comparison with Ebola

When the Ebola virus was spreading, thousands of workers were sent to nine nations and numerous states. The agencies got over $5 billion in emergency appropriations for their effort from the Congress. The federal workers who fought against Ebola got an additional 30 percent to 35 percent of their salaries when they were abroad.

The Lack of Funds

The Obama government wants about 1.9 billion in emergency funds for the Zika campaign but the Senate has approved just 1.1 billion. Unfortunately, a House proposal for it was also derailed as the opposition added controversial riders on issues regarding the Affordable Care Act, the Confederate flag and the Planned Parenthood. The lack of funds available to combat Zika virus has forced the agencies to offer no extra pay to the federal employees working in the potentially dangerous posts. This was confirmed by an official working for the State Department. The State Department has the responsibility of setting policy for foreign hazard pay.

The Need for Funds

An HHS spokesman recently emphasized that if the Congress fails to get extra funds, the research related to controlling Zika might not be able to move in the next phase. Obama government has rebuffed its efforts for acquiring the needed funds. Only a few days back, Obama warned that the Zika money is running out at a rapid pace and he even said that the situation is getting critical. It is being hoped that the funds would get the House approval soon so that the research to combat Zika might go on and the federal employees deployed to combat the disease may get some extra money for their efforts.