On Thursday, the CDC increased the budget for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreements by $44.25 million. The funding will be distributed across 62 jurisdictions, including states, municipalities and U.S. territories.
The budget increase is part of the $1.1 billion emergency Zika funding measure passed by Congress in September. Florida, which is currently experiencing local transmission of the mosquito-borne virus, will receive $2.6 million of the new monies.
"These CDC funds will enable states, cities and territories to maintain and improve their routine preparedness and response efforts against a myriad of health threats," said Stephen C. Redd, MD, director of CDC's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. "We appreciate being able to make the PHEP-funded awardees whole again to continue their vital work preparing for and responding to natural disasters and disease outbreaks."
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Since 2002, the PHEP cooperative agreement has been the sole source of federal funding for health emergency preparatory measures. Distribution of funds began the week of Oct. 17 and can use the monies to prepare for a multitude of public health emergencies, including Zika.
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