CDC, HHS award grants to detect Zika birth defects, develop vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday awarded $2.4 million in funding to Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles County to enhance their information gathering to rapidly detect microcephaly and other birth defects caused by Zika virus. The funding, which follows similar awards last month to 40 states and territories, also will help the recipients refer infants and families to appropriate health and social services, and monitor health and developmental outcomes of children affected by Zika. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response awarded $19.8 million to develop a Zika vaccine for use in the United States. To date, ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has awarded more than $76 million to develop Zika vaccines, diagnostics, blood screening tests and pathogen reduction technologies.