CDC official says Zika is 'scarier than we initially thought'

The mosquito-borne Zika virus is more dangerous than initially expected, USA Today reports experts warned Monday.

"Most of what we've learned is not reassuring," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought."

The mosquito species that spreads Zika is present in 30 states, according to the CDC. The virus is also being linked to more medical conditions that go beyond microcephaly, a birth defect that causes a smaller brain size.

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The CDC also announced Monday a $3.9 million emergency fund to help treat Zika in Puerto Rico, where the number of cases is doubling each week.