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Everything you need to know about the zika virus in South Florida.

Sen. Marco Rubio Worried About Wynwood; Talks Trump

Caitie Switalski
/
WLRN
Sen. Marco Rubio criticized Democrats in Congress for not passing a bill that would have allotted extra funding to fight Zika.

Sen. Marco Rubio held a press conference for the second time in two months - to plead with Congress and the Obama administration for funding to combat the Zika virus.

 

Rubio spoke about the impact of local cases for Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. “Up until this week with the Zika news, Wynwood offered this incredible story of revitalization,” he said.

 

The area has been identified as a place where local mosquitoes are found to carry the virus, and a travel advisory has been issued for pregnant women to avoid going there. Since then, the neighborhood has seen small businesses, and outdoor restaurants close because of Zika.

 

Wynwood is suffering, said Rubio. “It reminds us that Zika isn’t just a public health emergency. It’s also an economic one.”

 

Rubio's press conference occurred the same day that the U.S.  secretary of health and human services, Sylvia Burwell, sent a letter to Congress warning that the National Institutes of Health would exhaust its resources for vaccine development by month's end. 

 

Congress failed to reach an agreement before summer recess over President Barack Obama's request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding to fight Zika. Lawmakers are not expected back until September. 

 

Rubio also couldn't stay away from answering questions about Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

 
“I remind everyone that I ran. I wanted to be the nominee. It didn’t work out. Voters chose a different path and they’ve given us the choice we have right now," he said. "And it’s a choice in my mind between someone I disagree with on many issues and someone I disagree with on every issue.”

 

Rubio’s GOP opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Carlos Beruff, released a statement saying Rubio had failed to act on stopping the Zika virus.

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