by Brianna Crandall — May 16, 2016 — U.S. states and territories can now apply to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for funds to fight the Zika virus locally. More than $85 million in redirected funds identified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is being made available to support efforts to protect Americans from Zika infection and associated adverse health outcomes, including the serious birth defect microcephaly.
Stephen C. Redd, M.D. (RADM, USPHS), director of CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, said:
These funds will allow states and territories to continue implementation of their Zika preparedness plans, but are not enough to support a comprehensive Zika response and can only temporarily address what is needed. Without the full amount of requested emergency supplemental funding, many activities that need to start now are being delayed or may have to be stopped within months.
Under the latest announcement, $25 million in FY 2016 preparedness and response funding will go to 53 states, cities, and territories at risk for outbreaks of Zika virus infection. Recipients will receive funds based on the geographic locations of the two mosquitoes known to transmit Zika virus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus; history of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks; and size of population.
Jurisdictions will use the funds to strengthen incident management and emergency operations coordination; information management and sharing; and community recovery and resilience.
State, local and territorial health officials can use the funds to rapidly identify and investigate a possible outbreak of Zika virus disease in their communities; coordinate a comprehensive response across all levels of government and non-governmental partners (including the healthcare sector); and identify and connect to community services families affected by Zika virus disease.
Applications for the funds are due to CDC by June 13, 2016. Funds will be disbursed during the summer and remain available through July 2017.
