washington white house say friday would profoundly unwise plow money set aside ebola-related project research mitigation efforts mosquito-borne zika virus several top republican lawmakers request democratic president barack obama ask u.s. congress 1.8 billion fight zika unite state abroad pursue vaccine three key republican lawmakers house representatives say think government instead draw 2.7 billion yet use public health project overseas zika virus link birth defect brazil spread least 31 countries territories mostly americas representative hal rogers chairman house appropriations committee representatives kay granger tom cole appropriators health human service state department make request letter white house thursday aim request mount rapid response possible clear us expeditious way identify need fund maximize use unobligated fund previously provide ebola lawmakers say senator roy blunt missouri member republican senate leadership team say early month obama repurpose ebola fund new zika fight white house spokesman josh earnest say unspent ebola money need build public health infrastructure countries overseas help prevent future epidemics west africa stricken two-year ebola epidemic kill 11,300 people start december 2013 lead case unite state critically important follow efforts would profoundly unwise take money away ongoing effort need fight ebola earnest say earnest say white house would soon put forward formal zika fund request lawmakers include plan redirect ebola fund zika fight earnest say new fund also require much remain unknown zika include whether virus actually cause microcephaly condition mark unusually small head result developmental problems brazil say confirm 500 case microcephaly consider relate zika infections mother brazil investigate 3,900 additional suspect case microcephaly white house house republicans spar zika ebola fund