Following the discovery of the Zika virus in tourism hotspot Miami Beach, Sen. Harry Reid has called for the recall of Congress to act swiftly.
Reid called it the most alarming development yet, and the country cannot afford to wait until the end of the seven-week recess.
Lawmakers went on summer break last month without approving the $1.9 billion Zika fighting fund requested by President Obama.
After the discovery of five confirmed cases in Miami Beach, health officials issued a travel warning for all of Miami-Dade County to all pregnant women and their partners.
The five newly announced cases included two local Miami residents and three tourists from New York, Texas and Taiwan.
The tourism industry which posted a record 15.5 million visitors last year is braced for a short term downturn.
"I think it has obviously a potential impact on tourism in Miami-Dade County," said Carlos Giménez, the county mayor.
"We have got to work very aggressively to eliminate this as quickly as possible."
