(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Washington February 09 (QNA) - US President Barack Obama seeks $1.8 Billion emergency funding from the Congress to help fight the Zika virus outbreak.
The White House said the money would be used to expand mosquito control programmes speed development of a vaccine develop diagnostic tests and improve support for low-income pregnant women.
Zika virus disease is spread by mosquitoes. Most people who catch it experience mild or no symptoms. But mounting evidence from Brazil suggests that infection in pregnant women is linked to abnormally small heads in their babies - a birth defect called microcephaly.
Meanwhile Puerto Rico will receive $250 Million federal funding to fight Zika cases after the governor declared a public health emergency.The US territory's representative in Congress says the money will be used in part to help boost health services provided to pregnant women an Associated Press report said. (QNA)