CDC awards $200,000 to Wisconsin to fight the Zika virus

MILWAUKEE -- The CDC has awarded $200,000 to Wisconsin to fight the Zika virus.

According to a statement from the CDC, the money will be used "to establish, enhance, and maintain information-gathering systems to rapidly detect microcephaly–a serious birth defect of the brain–and other adverse outcomes caused by Zika virus infection."

The funding will also help Wisconsin ensure that affected infants and their families are referred to appropriate health and social services.

Finally, the award will enable Wisconsin to monitor over time the health and developmental outcomes of children affected by Zika.

“It is critical to identify infants affected by Zika so we can support them and their families,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden in the statement. “This CDC funding provides real-time data about the Zika epidemic as it unfolds in the United States and territories and will help those most devastated by this virus.”

According to the CDC, the funds will allow states and territories to:

According to the CDC, the funds were provided to states and territories based on their risk of Zika virus transmission, population need, and availability of funds.

These funds are in addition to $25 million awarded on July 1st as part of CDC’s preparedness and response funding to areas at risk for outbreaks of Zika.

Funding amounts for the 40 states and territories receiving the assistance range from $200,000-$720,000.

The CDC has obligated more than half of the $222 million in repurposed funds available for the domestic Zika fight. Overall, HHS has spent more than $201 million of the $374 million that was redirected for the domestic Zika fight in April.

Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Zika infection can also be spread by infected men and women to their sex partners.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika and many people infected with Zika have no symptoms.

Of those who do have symptoms, the most common complaints are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

Zika infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other severe defects in the developing fetus.