Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has proposed the creation of a special fund that could be tapped by health officials to expedite the fight against the Zika virus.
"Doctors and public health experts have been warning for months that the Zika virus was likely to reach the continental United States, but Congress has failed to pass the president's emergency funding request," the Democratic presidential nominee said, The Washington Post reports.
"As a result, the Zika virus has gained a foothold in Miami, and 196 people have already been infected in the city — infections that may have been preventable."
The proposal comes as lawmakers on Capitol Hill remain deadlocked on the passage of an $1.1 billion emergency spending bill to combat Zika, which can cause serious birth defects in newborns.
"When Congress fails to step up, communities are left without the resources they need, vaccines languish in development, and more people get sick," Clinton said.
The Zika virus has become a major crisis in Miami where pregnant women are now being told to avoid certain areas with a high instance of reported cases. Those areas include the trendy South Beach area.
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