CDC awards $60 million for states, territories to fight Zika

States, cities and territories will receive $60 million in grants Aug. 1 to protect pregnant women and others from Zika virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. The funding will support epidemiologic surveillance and investigation, mosquito control and monitoring, laboratory capacity, participation in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry and Zika-related activities in U.S.-Mexico border states. States and territories also will receive $10 million in funding to identify Zika-associated birth defects such as microcephaly and refer affected families to services, the agency said. On July 1, CDC awarded $25 million in preparedness and response funding to states, cities and territories in areas at risk for Zika outbreaks.