White House To Transfer Ebola Funds To Fight Zika Virus
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional officials say the Obama administration is about to announce it will transfer leftover money from the largely successful fight against Ebola to combat the growing threat of the Zika virus.
The officials say roughly 75 percent of the $600 million or so would be devoted to the Centers for Disease Control. The agency focuses on research and development of anti-Zika vaccines, treating those infected with the virus and combating the mosquitoes that spread it.
The officials spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter before an expected Wednesday White House announcement.
Researchers fear Zika causes microcephaly, a serious birth defect in which a baby's head is too small, and poses other threats to the children of pregnant women infected with it.
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