The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday to provide US$622.1 million to help fight the spread of the Zika virus.

    The approved fund is far below President Barack Obama's request and lower than Senate legislation. The Obama administration has requested US$1.9 billion. 

    US health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies.

    The World Health Organization declared a global emergency in February over the explosive spread of the Zika virus and discovered a possible association between the contagion of women by Zika and the birth of babies with microcephaly, a severe congenital malformation in which the fetus' brain does not develop properly.

Source: QNA