WHO confirms first case in Africa of Brazilian-strain of Zika

The Brazilian strain of the Zika virus has been found for the first time in Africa.

The World Health Organisation has confirmed an outbreak on the island chain of Cape Verde is the same strain as the one blamed for birth abnormalities in Brazil. Cape Verde has reported three cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by a small head size that can lead to sever development problems in babies.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-05-21

Congress Is Using Zika To Weaken Truck Safety

'The newly inserted policy provisions represent a trend over the last three years of the trucking industry using must-pass spending bills to win regulatory concessions that are opposed by most safety advocates and likely could not pass as normal stand-alone bills. In this case, not only do the bills fund major parts of the government, they provide cash to fight Zika.'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congress-zika-truck-safety_us_573cfc0ae4b0646cbeec1b89

(fortunately Zika funding got passed, albeit much watered down...)