The federal government gave states new funding to help prepare for the Zika virus, as Congress moves on approving new funding for the battle.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the funds will come from other programs to address the virus, with officials increasingly worried that limited outbreaks of the virus will occur with mosquito season.
The CDC announced new funding of $25 million from preparedness funding to give to 53 states, cities and U.S. territories at risk for Zika transmission. Regions will get funds based on the location of the two types of mosquitoes that primarily spread Zika through biting people: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
“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,” the CDC said.
The agency announced earlier this year that it will give more than $60 million to states and cities to boost mosquito control and monitoring, build up labs, and enhance surveillance of the virus.
The Obama administration announced earlier this year it would redirect $500 million in Ebola funding to fight the Zika virus, but still wanted Congress to approve President Obama’s $1.9 billion funding request.
Zika typically can cause a mild illness, but the CDC has confirmed a link to the birth defect microcephaly. Puerto Rico has reported the first case of microcephaly linked to Zika in the U.S. territory.
The CDC is seeking applications for the funds until June and will disburse the funding throughout the summer. The funds will remain available through July 2017.
Meanwhile, Congress is making progress on Zika funding. The Senate is expected to vote next week on the funding request, although it is not known how the House will act.
