On Wednesday, CMS designated $66.1 million in emergency funding for states, territories, tribes or tribal organizations experiencing local transmission of the Zika virus.
Entities applying for funds will be given monies in accordance with the number of locally transmitted Zika cases recorded by the CDC and the area's population size. Of the available $66.1 million, $60.6 million will be directed to Puerto Rico where the CDC has reported more the 29,000 locally acquired cases of Zika.
"This funding will accelerate efforts to provide access to important healthcare services for people, in particular pregnant women and children, living in areas with local active Zika transmission," said Vikki Wachino, deputy administrator with CMS. "Providing immediate assistance to areas affected by Zika is critical. Strong coordination by health departments is essential to address the prevention and treatment needs of people at risk from Zika."
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