Following the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the Zika virus infection is now a public health emergency, the United States has announced plans to fight the virus with a massive multi-billion-dollar campaign.
Interviewed by CBS, U.S. President Barack Obama announced that his administration is planning to ask Congress for about $1.8 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus, which is already suspected to have caused brain defects to thousands of babies in South America.
Obama explained that this proposed emergency funding is meant to enhance global response against the Zika virus.
The funding is also envisioned to help in the continuing efforts to find a scientific way to prevent the spread of the virus.
"We have to take this very seriously. We're going to be putting up a legislative proposal to Congress to resource both the research on vaccines and diagnostics but also helping the public health systems," Obama told CBS, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to receive $828 million—the biggest chunk in the proposed funding—to be spent on mosquito control and surveillance efforts to track the Zika virus.
The funding will also be used to enhance the ability of birth-defect registries in the U.S. to detect Zika-related risks.
"There appears to be some significant risk for pregnant women and women who are thinking about having a baby," Obama pointed out.
Should Congress approve the funding proposed by the White House, the U.S. Agency for International Development will receive about $335 million to extend assistance to affected countries, particularly in providing training to health workers, stimulating private sector research and helping pregnant women have greater access to insect repellents that will protect them against mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.
About $250 million of the proposed emergency funding will be allocated to Puerto Rico through additional Medicaid funding for health services. Some $200 million will be used for research and commercialisation of new vaccines and diagnostic tests.