ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Sen. Charles Schumer says Congress should return to Washington to take up emergency funding to combat the Zika virus.

The New York Democrat says ongoing work on a vaccine could be jeopardized unless lawmakers end their current recess early and approve a $1.9 billion emergency Zika funding bill.

Schumer says he made his request in a letter to House and Senate leadership.

He says lawmakers would only have to return to Washington for a single day to approve the funding.

Congress isn't scheduled to reconvene until September.