President Barack Obama on Monday asked for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funds to tackle the fast-spreading Zika virus in the United States and beyond.
The mosquito-borne illness has surged through Latin America, prompting fears that clement spring weather could bring a spate of cases north of the Rio Grande.
The White House said fresh cash is needed to fund mosquito control programs, vaccine research and other "essential strategies" to combat the virus and help "ongoing preparedness efforts."
Zika is not deadly but in Latin America has been linked to a rapid rise in the number of children born with microcephaly -- abnormally small heads and brains.
READ: Zika detected in urine, saliva: top Brazilian researchers
There is currently no cure or vaccine for the virus which, in most people, causes mild symptoms.
While Obama called for more funds, he also urged calm.
"The good news is this is not like Ebola, people don't die of Zika -- a lot of people get it and don't even know that they have it," he told television channel CBS.
"There appears to be some significant risk for pregnant women or women who are thinking about getting pregnant."
"We don't know exactly what the relations there are but there is enough correlation that we have to take this very seriously."
The World Health Organization has declared a global medical emergency to combat Zika and individual countries and regions are beginning to mobilize.
The head of the US National Institutes of Health, Anthony Fauci, said the prospects for a vaccine are good and phase one trials could begin "sometime in the summer."
"(We are) unlikely to have a vaccine that's widely available for a few years but we certainly can get the initial steps."
In the interim, some countries have taken the extraordinary step of urging women to delay having children.
In Europe, a medicines watchdog has set up a task team to help develop drugs and vaccines.
According to the Pan-American Health Organization, 26 countries have confirmed cases, spanning 7,000 kilometers (4,400 miles) from Mexico to Paraguay.
The hardest hit country is Brazil, which hosts the Summer Olympics starting in August.
Fear of catching the virus has become a national obsession, dabbing this year's carnival extravaganza with a large dollop of Mosquito repellent.
Firms report sales of spray have increased 800 percent from December 2015-January 2016.
Pharmacies report they are starting to sell out of some repellents.
In Colombia, more than 22,600 cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed.
There, the virus has been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disease that can cause paralysis in humans.
Spring forward
The US Centers for Disease Control has so far found 50 confirmed cases of Zika among travelers returning to the United States.
In at least one instance, in Dallas, the disease may have been transmitted sexually.
READ: Zika could inject fear back into sex
But the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries the virus is endemic across the southern and eastern United States.
"As spring and summer approach, bringing with them larger and more active mosquito populations, we must be fully prepared to mitigate and quickly address local transmission within the continental US, particularly in the southern United States," the White House said.
Puerto Rico and other US territories in warmer areas are especially vulnerable.
Obama's funding proposal includes $250 million in aid for the cash-strapped island.
AFP
Tue Feb 09 2016
In Colombia, more than 22,600 cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed.
Harimau Muda kurang 'kerja rumah' hadapi Piala Asia B-23 2024 - Penganalisis
Menerusi pemerhatian di laman media sosial, timbul cakap-cakap netizen yang lebih terarah kepada perjalanan kesemua pemain negara kendalian Juan Torres Garrido ke Qatar sekadar 'makan angin'.
UMNO aktifkan 'war room' bantu calon Kerajaan Perpaduan - Ahmad
Ahmad berkata UMNO juga akan melaksanakan kempen bagi membantu calon berkenaan dengan bersungguh-sungguh.
Pelepasan air terawat Fukushima digantung kerana terputus elektrik
Pelepasan air radioaktif terawat ke laut dari loji janakuasa nuklear Fukushima yang lumpuh digantung pada Rabu berikutan gangguan bekalan elektrik separa, kata pengendali loji itu.
Prabowo rasmi diisytihar Presiden Indonesia
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya Umum (KPU) secara rasmi akan mengisytiharkan Prabowo Subianto sebagai Presiden Indonesia dipilih, dalam satu majlis pada Rabu, seperti yang dijadualkan.
Jerman-UNRWA mungkin bekerjasama semula
Kerajaan Jerman merancang untuk menjalinkan kerjasama dengan agensi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi pelarian Palestin (UNRWA). Ia susulan daripada kontroversi yang mendakwa anggota petugas UNRWA terlibat dalam serangan di Gaza yang berlaku pada 7 Oktober tahun lalu.
Ini panggilan daripada Allah SWT - Dr Sharifah Mazlina
Ketua Misi Ekspedisi Wanita Berkumpulan ke Antartika, Dr Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir yang merupakan salah seorang peserta dari Malaysia bagi misi Break The Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla menyifatkan penglibatannya dalam misi berkenaan sebagai satu panggilan yang ditentukan Allah.
Tujuh ditahan polis dalam serbuan 'keganasan' Australia
Polis Australia menahan tujuh individu yang menimbulkan risiko dan ancaman kepada orang ramai selepas melakukan serbuan antikeganasan membabitkan lebih 400 pegawainya, pada Rabu.
[TERKINI] UM diminta siasat, sedia laporan segera
Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT) mengambil maklum dan memandang serius isu yang berlaku berhubung tindakan seorang penceramah warga asing mengeluarkan kenyataan yang dilihat mencetuskan kontroversi dan tidak menghormati sentimen masyarakat seperti tular di media sosial.
Astro AWANI dinobat adaptasi AI dalam pemberitaan terbaik di pentas Asia
Astro AWANI dinobat sebagai pemenang Anugerah Digital Media Awards 2024 bagi kategori adaptasi Teknologi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) dalam pemberitaan terbaik di rantau Asia.
MITI optimis prestasi perdagangan lebih baik pada 2024
Tengku Zafrul menjelaskan, MITI juga memperbaharui fokusnya dengan berpaksikan kepada empat tunjang utama iaitu ekonomi, kelestarian, rakyat dan inovasi.
Kematian tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama diisytihar satu kemalangan
Punca kematian diisytiharkan sebagai kes lemas dan cara kematian disahkan sebagai satu kemalangan.
Tukang masak peribadi Barack Obama ditemukan lemas
Mendiang Campbell meninggalkan seorang isteri, Sherise dan sepasang anak kembar.
Kes 1MDB: Jho Low rancang derma RM132 juta kempen Obama 2012
DiCaprio memberitahu juri bahawa Jho Low merancang untuk menderma sekitar AS$30 juta bagi membantu kempen pemilihan semula Barack Obama.
Naib Presiden AS Kamala Harris mulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika
Kamala Harris memulakan lawatan seminggu ke Afrika bermula hujung minggu ini.
Pemimpin, selebriti dan peminat bola sepak dunia ratapi pemergian Pele
Pele meninggal dunia pada usia 82 tahun selepas bertarung dengan kanser kolon.
Obama, Michelle kembali ke White House untuk lancar potret rasmi
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Barack Obama dan isteri Michelle Obama kembali ke Rumah Putih untuk melancarkan potret rasmi mereka.
Obama umum positif COVID-19
Beliau dalam pada itu turut memaklumkan isterinya Bekas Wanita Pertama Michelle negatif jangkitan itu setakat ini.
Pertembungan generasi tua dan muda sebenarnya cetuskan cabaran berbahaya - Obama
Masih ramai golongan berusia yang berada di takuk lama termasuk cara kepimpinan dan pemikiran
Sisi luka perang di Afghanistan tinggalan Amerika
Sorotan kesan misi hampir dua dekad tentera Amerika Syarikat di Afghanistan ke atas generasi kanak-kanak, yang paling terdera disebabkan perang. Nasib mereka terus tidak menentu di tangan Taliban
Ekonomi dunia: China tidak akan lepasi AS sebagai pemimpin global - Biden
Biden berjanji akan membuat pelaburan besar bagi memastikan negara Uncle Sam itu menang dalam persaingan membabitkan dua gergasi ekonomi dunia itu.