CDC awards $2.4 million to five cities to fight Zika virus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently awarded $2.4 million to Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles County for information-gathering systems to detect microcephaly.

Microcephaly is a serious birth defect of the brain that is closely linked to the outbreak of Zika virus.

The CDC’s grant serves as an addition to the $16.4 million recently awarded to states and territories for surveillance of microcephaly and other adverse outcomes of the virus, which will enable the various localities to coordinate with state authorities. The funds will allow states and areas to enhance information gathering to carry out real-time strategies, enhance capacity development through partner collaboration and infrastructure improvements, provide referral of infants and families to health and social resources, participate in CDC data reporting, and expand access to examination of health and monitoring of developmental outcomes of children born to women with positive or inconclusive Zika virus test results.

The CDC has obligated more than $193 million of repurposed funds for Zika preparedness, which includes more than $110 million to support state, territorial and local jurisdictions in the fight against Zika. In total, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has obligated $264 million of the $374 million redirected for domestic Zika response.

Zika virus is typically spread through the bite of Aedes species mosquito. At this time, there is no vaccine available for Zika virus.