Politics

Rubio: No Abortions For Zika-Infected Women

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

Joshua Delk Contributor
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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said that he doesn’t believe that abortions should be allowed for women infected with the Zika virus, including those babies likely to be born with Microcephaly — the birth defect linked to the mosquito-borne disease.

Rubio told Politico Saturday, “I understand a lot of people disagree with my view, but I believe that all human life is worthy of protection of our laws. And when you present it in the context of Zika or any prenatal condition, it’s a difficult question and a hard one.”

Children with Microcephaly are born with a smaller head size, resulting from slowed or stopped growth in brain size, and can lead to developmental issues and a host of other health impairments later in life.

“Obviously, Microcephaly is a terrible prenatal condition that kids are born with. And when they are, it’s a lifetime of difficulties,” said Rubio. “So I get it. I’m not pretending to you that that’s an easy question you asked me. But I’m pro-life. And I’m strongly pro-life. I believe all human life should be protected by our law, irrespective of the circumstances or condition of that life.”

Three hundred twenty-two of the 1,825 reported cases of the virus worldwide have been in Rubio’s home state of Florida, where the state government has enacted measures to isolate and halt the spread of the disease. Gov. Rick Scott pledged $26.2 million to fight Zika in late June and has called Washington lawmakers to approve more funding toward the effort.

The Florida senator was the first Republican to co-sponsor Obama’s now-failed Zika-fighting funding.