The White House has expressed concerns that the debt crisis confronting Puerto Rico could hamper its ability to deal with the spread of the Zika virus. The US says the financial turmoil in Puerto Rico is having a negative impact on its public health care system, adding that it is a bad time for investments to be cut.

Zika first began spreading in the country in December. There are now nearly 700 confirmed cases of the virus on the Caribbean island. Two weeks ago, health officials confirmed the first U.S. death of a patient infected with the Zika in Puerto Rico.