US President Barack Obama has asked health officials to step up the fight against Zika. So far, over 270 women in the US and Puerto Rico have been tested positive for Zika infection. Health experts have also warned of an increase in cases during summer months, when mosquitoes are more prevalent.
American health officials say 157 women in the U.S., and more than 120 others in U.S territories - notably Puerto Rico - have tested positive for the infection.
Most had traveled to areas like Brazil where Zika is prevalent, or had sex with someone from there.
On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama told leading health officials, he's asking for nearly two billion dollars in emergency funding.
"We want to be able to feel safe and secure, and families who are of child-bearing years want to feel as if they can have confidence that, when they travel, when they want to start a family, that this is not an issue. To the extent that that's something that we think is important, then this is a pretty modest investment for us to get those assurances," Obama said.
The money, Obama says, will be used to support things like vaccines and mosquito eradication. He said a wall won't prevent the virus-carrying insect from entering the U.S.
The U.S. senate has approved nearly half of the money. The Republican-led House agreed to finance less than a third by cutting funding to existing programs such as Ebola. U.S. health officials say the move is inadequate and short-sighted.
Meanwhile, health officials in Africa say they've confirmed the Brazilian strain of the Zika virus in Cape Verde. The Portuguese-speaking island country is a popular holiday destination for many European tourists.
170 pregnant women are among those infected, and at least three babies have been diagnosed with microcephaly, a birth defect believed to be linked to Zika.
"As a first step, countries should heighten risk communication in order to raise the public's awareness of complications associated with Zika virus disease, and to promote protection at the individual level to avoid mosquito bites as well as sexual transmission of the virus," said Matshidiso Meoti, WHO regional director.
Moeti said there's now proof that the South American virus is, quote, 'on the doorstep of Africa.' She's ruled out travel restrictions as a way to stop the spread of the disease, calling instead for greater education and prevention efforts-the type Obama is hoping to fund right here in the US.
