Yikes! 39 Confirmed Zika Virus Cases In Brooklyn, 223 In New York City

The number of Zika virus cases in New York City has tripled since May and Senator Chuck Schumer is currently fighting for Congress to pass a $1.9 billon emergency funding bill to combat it. There have been 223 confirmed Zika cases in New York City alone, that of which 39 patients are in Brooklyn.

Senator Schumer said that the Zika cases, that according to health department figures are predominantly living in the New York City area, are still traveling to countries with mosquitos carrying the virus is more prevalent and bringing the disease back home.

“When it comes to fighting this epidemic, a stitch in time will save nine – so I am urging my colleagues to pass this bill and make sure emergency funding is delivered before it is too late,” the senator said in a statement.




The Health Department has gone through extensive measures to kill off the mosquitos that transmit the virus. The Department has sprayed pesticides throughout the city in areas where mosquitos breed. Areas in East New York, Marine Park and Mill Basin have been sprayed a multiple times since May, records show.

The emergency funding would provide more resources to fight the virus including mosquito control measures and vaccine research. Funding would also enlarge resources for family planning and contraceptives as one of the effects of the Zika virus in pregnant women giving birth to babies with Microcephaly — a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than normal.

The Zika virus is said to be spread through mosquito bites by mosquito’s carrying the disease. Health officials have a also stated the virus can be spread through sexual contact.