California Gets Federal Grant to Deal With Microcephaly Caused By Zika Virus

The California Department of Public Health received a federal grant this week from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fight the Zika virus. The grant announcement comes the same week that the agency revealed that two babies were born in California with Zika-related microcephaly from mothers who were infected with the virus outside the country.

So far, all California cases have been contracted elsewhere. In fact, one neighborhood in Miami is the only spot in the continental US to have Zika cases caused by local mosquito bites. But all states are on guard, bracing for the influx of Zika.

This week, the CDC awarded $16 million to states and territories to fight Zika, with California getting a slice of the pie. Awards range from $200,000-$720,000, although the exact amount of California's award has not been disclosed.

• Related: Two Babies Born With Zika-Related Defects in California

The money is intended to help California deal with the emerging threat, quickly identify cases of microcephaly linked to Zika, and refer infants and families to services. It will also be used to monitor the health and developmental outcomes of children affected by Zika.

“It is critical to identify infants with birth defects related to Zika virus so we can support them and their families,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “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.”

• Related: Berkeley Issues Zika Advisory to Residents

The award is in addition to $25 million awarded on July 1 as part of CDC’s preparedness and response funding to areas at risk for outbreaks of Zika.

Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species 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).

— Image by Takako Tabata, UC San Francisco