The Centers for Disease Control is awarding $60 million to help states fight Zika, and Arizona will get a cut of that on Aug. 1. The Arizona Department of Health already has plans for that money.
Arizona is slated to receive more than $1.8 million in the coming weeks. Dr. Cara Christ, state health department director, said that money will be used to fight Zika across the board. That means funds will be spent on education, surveillance and mosquito control, and on protecting pregnant women and creating a registry to monitor those who are infected with Zika.
"It is a very concerning disease," said Christ. "It’s not like it’s a disease we’ve ever seen before."
Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly. The virus has also been linked to Guillain Barre syndrome, which affects the nervous system.
