WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today 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.

            “The Zika virus is an imminent and evolving public health threat, and it is imperative that we take immediate steps to combat its spread, particularly as we move into the warmer summer months,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This funding is a welcome investment that will help prepare the state to address the Zika virus and better protect Maine families.”

Maine DHHS can 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.

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