WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration is now asking for all blood banks in the U.S. to begin screening for the Zika virus. 

While blood donation testing was initially only required in areas with active Zika transmission, the FDA is now asking for all U.S. states and territories to screen for the Zika virus in order to protect the blood supply in the nation.

Blood banks test all donations for blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis and West Nile, but with the new FDA requirement, they will need to begin testing for the Zika virus as well.