California gets 'critical' funds to track babies born with defects caused by Zika virus

Califoia will receive $3.6u2009million over five years from the federal govement to track babies bo in the Goldenu2009State with microcephaly, a birth defect caused by the Zikau2009virus.

The money — the first installment of which comes this week — is part of $16u2009million awarded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to states most at risk from the mosquito boe virus.

A map released by the CDC earlier this year shows that the mosquito that carries Zika is already present in more than half the nation. More than 430u2009people have tested positive for the virus in the United States, though almost all of them contracted Zika after traveling abroad in Latinu2009American and Caribbean countries, where the virus is more active.

But local transmissions have been reported in Florida, where 15u2009people from a Miami neighborhood now have tested positive for the virus. Travel waings for pregnant women and couples who would like to get pregnant in the immediate future have been issued for that area.

The CDC’s funding is an acknowledgement by federal health experts that Zika’s spread is inevitable.

“It is critical to identify infants with birth defects related to Zika virus so we can support them and their families,” CDC Director Dr.u2009Tom Frieden said in a statement. “This CDC funding provides real-time data about the Zika epidemic as it unfolds in the United States and territories and will help those most devastated by this virus.”

As of Friday, a total of 114u2009travel-associated Zika virus infections have been reported in Califoia since 2015, according to the state’s department of public health. Of those:

•u200924 are from Losu2009Angeles County, which reports the highest number of any jurisdiction in the state.

•u2009Orangeu2009County has nine cases, while Sanu2009Beardino County has six and Riversideu2009County has one.

•u200921 Califoia women who tested positive for Zika are pregnant.

•u2009One Sanu2009Diego woman was infected through sexual contact after her partner had traveled and retued from Colombia.

There are no local transmissions reported in Califoia so far.

The number of Zika virus cases is expected to increase among travelers this summer because of outbreaks in countries such as Mexico, Puertou2009Rico and Brazil.

In addition, the mosquito that can transmit the virus is already present in Southeu2009Califoia. The insect is related to the Asianu2009Tiger mosquito, which is also active in the region. Both thrive in the daytime.

Like Westu2009Nile virus, Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus also can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Scientists have confirmed that Zika can cause birth defects. Some symptoms include acute onset of fever, a flat red rash and joint pain. Although death is rare, one out of five people infected with Zikau2009virus can become very ill, according to the CDC. Though it is a mosquito-boe disease, the Zika virus also is found in the semen of infected men and can be transmitted to sexual partners, health officials said.

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The money from the CDC was diverted from other public health resources until other Zika funds are approved by Congress, federal health officials said.