WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced July 6 that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will receive $176,049 in federal funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to bolster public health system preparedness and response capabilities to protect Americans from the Zika virus.
Maine DHHS will utilize the funding to identify and investigate possible outbreaks of Zika, coordinate a comprehensive response, and identify and connect families affected by Zika to community services. Funding can also be used to purchase preparedness resources like repellent, screens, and supplies for Zika prevention kits, according to the CDC.