US President Barack Obama will ask congress for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funds to fight Zika at home and abroad and pursue a vaccine.
But Mr Obama also said there is no reason to panic over the mosquito-borne virus.
Zika, spreading rapidly in South and Central America and the Caribbean, has been linked to severe birth defects in Brazil and public health officials' concern is focused on pregnant women and women who may become pregnant.
Mr Obama's request to congress includes $200m for research, development and commercialisation of new vaccines and diagnostic tests for the virus.
In addition, the London-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), Europe's drugs regulator, said it has formed an expert task force on Zika to advise companies working on vaccines and medicines against the virus.
US President Barack Obama is to ask Congress for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funds to fight Zikahttps://t.co/wodIIoO7o3
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There are no vaccines or treatment for Zika and none even undergoing clinical studies, as the disease had previously been viewed as relatively benign.
Most infected people develop either no symptoms or mild ones like a fever and skin rashes.
"The good news is this is not like Ebola, people don't die of Zika.
"A lot of people get it and don't even know that they have it," Mr Obama said.
“But there shouldn't be panic on this, this is not something where people are going to die from it.
"It is something we have to take seriously," he added.
Scientists are working to find out if there is a causal link between Zika and babies born with microcephaly, meaning they have abnormally small heads and can suffer developmental problems.
The research began after a huge rise in such birth defects last year in Brazil at the same time the virus took hold there.
Most of the money sought by Mr Obama, who faces pressure from Republicans and some fellow Democrats to act decisively on Zika, would be spent in the United States on testing, surveillance and response in affected areas.
There have been 50 confirmed cases of Zika in the continental United States among people who had traveled to affected areas, according to federal health officials.
The White House said it would ask for $250 million for Puerto Rico, the fiscally struggling Caribbean US territory. Zika is actively being transmitted in Puerto Rico and other warmer territories.
Brazil, the country hardest hit by Zika, estimates that up to 1.5 million people have been infected in the country.
Brazil is investigating more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly.
There has been two confirmed cases of the virus in Ireland. Both people fully recovered.
