Florida Awards Grants In Battle Against Zika Virus
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Grants have been awarded to ten Florida universities and research institutions in the fight against the spread of the Zika virus.
They've been tasked with speeding up the development of a Zika vaccine, devising new testing methods and studying the long-term impacts of the mosquito-borne virus.
Gov. Rick Scott announced the 34 grant awards in Tampa. The grants are funded through $25 million that Scott authorized last year for Zika research and vaccine development.
The state's surgeon general, Dr. Celeste Philip, said in a statement that Florida can't relax its efforts to fight the Zika virus during the current winter reprieve from mosquitoes.
According to a statement from Scott's office, the University of Miami received the largest grant award: over $13 million for Zika test and vaccine development, as well as studies of the virus' effects in children and pregnant women.
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