Obama calls for speeding up of zika research

President Barack Obama is calling for speeding up research to diagnose, prevent and treat Zika virus.

Obama met with public health and national security officials about the mosquito-borne virus on Tuesday in the Situation Room.

The White House says Obama was briefed on steps being taken to protect Americans and factors that could cause the virus to spread in the U.S. Officials also updated the president on how the virus' spread in the hemisphere could affect the economy and development.

Leaders from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health and Human Services Department took part in the meeting.

The White House says Obama told the officials that all Americans should have information about the virus and how to protect themselves from infection.

Health officials suspect zika is linked to a wave of birth defects in Brazil in which babies have small heads. U.S. officials have recommended pregnant women consider postponing trips to areas in the Caribbean and South America affected by zika virus disease outbreaks.