ISDH to receive $3.6 million to combat Zika

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indiana State Department of Health will have more than $3.6 million to protect Hoosiers from Zika.

The ISDH was given the money from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the next five years.

According to the release, the money will be used to “investigate illnesses, conduct mosquito surveillance and laboratory testing, support mosquito control and public health preparedness efforts and increase awareness of the Zika virus.”

The money will also fund a project manager, and application developer and nurses to conduct case reviews for infants diagnosed with microcephaly.

“While most people who get infected with Zika have mild symptoms or might not even know they’re sick, Zika is a serious concern for pregnant women and their babies because of the risk of microcephaly and other health complications,” State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams said. “We have been working diligently to educate Hoosiers about their risks at home and while travelingand to ensure that Indiana is prepared for Zika should we see local transmission here.”

There have been no reported cases of Zika acquired from local mosquitoes in Indiana.

For more information about the Zika virus, click here.