Spread through mosquitos and contact with certain bodily fluids, the Zika virus is spreading rapidly in south and central America and has been confirmed in the U.S. (AP file photo/Felipe Dana)

Carson, Christie support quarantine for suspected Zika patients

Forcing a quarantine for Americans showing symptoms of the Zika virus is an acceptable approach by U.S. health officials, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie both said Saturday night.

"You bet I would," Christie responded at the ABC presidential debate, asked whether he supports a quarantine for those with symptoms. "That's how you should be making these decisions.

Spread through mosquitos and contact with certain bodily fluids, the Zika virus is spreading rapidly in south and central America and has been confirmed in the U.S.

Carson said that "willy nilly quarantining people because people they've been to Brazil" won't work, but said if there's evidence someone is infected then quarantine is fine.

"If we have evidence they are infected and there is evidence that infection can be spread by something they're doing, yes," Carson said.