The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is announcing the availability of about $70 million in supplemental funding to states, cities, and territories to support continued efforts to protect Americans from Zika virus.
The funding, distributed through CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC) Cooperative Agreement, will further support activities to protect the health of Americans, especially pregnant women, including epidemiologic surveillance and investigation, improving mosquito control and monitoring, and strengthening laboratory capacity. Funding also will support participation in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry to monitor pregnant women with Zika and their infants.
States were notified of the funding opportunity announcement on Oct. 19, 2016. All ELC applicants can request funds. The distribution of funds will be determined based on factors such as Zika disease burden, current laboratory and mosquito surveillance and control capacity, the presence of the Zika virus vector (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes), and local Zika virus transmission. CDC continues to work with states and territories to provide emergency resources for critical needs while the agency completes the necessary reviews and approvals of all applications.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 20. For more information on CDC’s ELC Cooperative Agreement, visit the ELC webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dpei/epidemiology-laboratory-capacity.html.
Endoscopes and Lumened Instruments: New Studies Highlight Persistent Contamination Risks
May 7th 2025Two new studies reveal troubling contamination in both new endoscopes and cleaned lumened surgical instruments, challenging the reliability of current reprocessing practices and manufacturer guidelines.
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.