Republican blasts Obama for weak travel restrictions for Zika countries

By Kyle Feldscher

Published August 1, 2016 8:43pm ET

Republican blasts Obama for weak travel restrictions for Zika countries — The administration needed to release stricter travel warnings earlier in 2016, Rep. Lamar Smith said. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite

A top House Republican blasted the Obama administration for not raising travel warnings for Americans traveling abroad to countries where the Zika virus is spreading.

Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said the administration needs to warn Americans to be careful when traveling to countries where the virus is present. The Zika virus is present in about 50 countries, including the United States.