Rick Scott on CNN: ‘The federal government needs to get to work’ to combat Zika

Gov. Rick Scott said federal lawmakers have to work together to battle the spread of Zika.

In an interview with Wolf Blitzer Wednesday, the Naples Republican called the Zika virus a “national and international issue” and said the federal government has failed to do its part in battling the spread of the disease.

“The feds aren’t doing their part,” he said in the interview. “The federal government needs to get to work, and the president and Congress need to work together as a partner.”

There are more than 440 cases of the Zika virus in Florida. While the vast majority are travel related, the Department of Health Tuesday reported  21 cases of non-travel-related Zika in the Sunshine State.

Health officials believe the virus is being transmitted in the Wynwood neighborhood, a trendy arts district in Miami. While the number of local transmissions continues to rise, health officials said they believe active transmissions are only taking place within a one-square mile area.

Scott said congressional leaders need to reconvene Congress to pass a funding bill to help states combat the spread of the virus. Senate Democrats blocked a $1.1 billion House GOP-backed bill, which, among other things, included provisions to defund planned Parenthood in Puerto Rico.

“We need a federal partner,” said Scott.