(VOVworld) – The White House announced on Wednesday that it will devote an additional 589 million USD to fighting the Zika virus, which has so far infected 672 Americans. It also called for the approval of a further 1.8 billion USD in emergency money.

WHO estimates there could be up to 4 million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year. (Photo: Reuters)

According to White House budget chief Shaun Donovan, most of the 589 million USD is being taken from the 2.7-billion-USD state fund set up to fight Ebola, which has killed 11,300 people in West Africa. He said that the Zika precautionary measures would be stalled if Congress doesn’t approve the 1.8 billion USD of emergency money.

Zika has been detected in 50 countries, of which the hardest hit is South America.