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American Samoa, Virgin Islands awarded $742,000 to expand Zika services
HHS recently awarded more than $742,000 in funding to three health centers in American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands to expand outreach, patient education and screening, and preventive and primary care services to fight the Zika virus.
The CDC has received reports of more than 50 cases of Zika virus in those U.S. territories, and the number is expected to increase, according to a press release. In 2014, the CDC and its 12 delivery sites served 26,000 patients, including more than 6,000 females aged 15 to 45 years. After reviewing existing evidence on the virus, CDC investigators determined that Zika can cause fetal death, microcephaly and other severe brain defects and adverse outcomes if a woman is infected during pregnancy.
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
“We are working to learn as much about the Zika virus as we can, as quickly as we can, and make sure the public is informed about the steps they can take to minimize their risk, as well as the risk to their families and communities, of getting Zika,” HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said in the release. “Our goal is to reduce the risk of Zika virus, especially among pregnant women and women of childbearing age. We are taking the necessary steps now, like [this] funding announcement to support Zika preparedness and response efforts.”
These latest funds add to the $5 million granted to 20 health centers in Puerto Rico in March.
“These additional funds will allow health centers in these territories to offer a more robust response to the Zika threat,” Jim Macrae, MA, MPP, acting administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, said in the release.