The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to award $60 million in total funds to U.S. states and territories in support of efforts that seek to prevent the spread of Zika virus in the country.
CDC said Thursday the funds aim to support mosquito tracking and control efforts, build up laboratory capacity, assist epidemiologic surveillance and investigation, as well as track pregnant women and infants with Zika infection through the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry.
“Local, state and territorial health departments are on the front lines in the fight against Zika,” said Tom Frieden, director of CDC.
“We hope Congress will provide the additional resources we need to fully support the Zika response.”
CDC will distribute the funds through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement and will award $10 million in additional funds on Aug. 1 to help states and territories detect cases of birth defects related to Zika virus.
The agency said it also doled out $25 million in funds on July 1 in support of response and preparedness efforts in states and cities at risk for Zika outbreaks.
CDC’s ELC agreement aims to provide annual funds to public health agencies in an effort to help them respond to threats posed by infectious diseases.
