The CDC has increased its funding to help states and communities become better prepared to track and respond to infectious diseases. This year, the agency will award roughly $110 million, a $13 million increase from fiscal year 2014 funding.
The increases will go toward vaccine-preventable-disease surveillance, foodborne-disease prevention and advanced molecular detection.
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"In the last year alone, states were hit with emerging diseases, like chikungunya and respiratory infections from enterovirus D-68, while also responding to outbreaks of measles, foodborne illness and other threats," said Beth P. Bell, MD, director of the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. "These awards lay the foundation for those on the front lines — state and local health departments — to act quickly to prevent illness and deaths."
The funding runs through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement. The money funds all 50 state health departments, six local departments (Chicago, the District of Columbia, Houston, Los Angeles County, New York City and Philadelphia) and eight U.S territories or affiliates.
Find a breakdown of the funding here.