Title
a. Accept the $85,580.25 Grant Award from the California Department of Public Health to ensure lab capacity and capability for Zika virus testing; and
b. Authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to execute the Grant Agreement No. 16-11074 with the California Department of Public Health for implementation of the Zika Preparedness and Response project for a total Grant amount of $85,580.25 for the grant period from approval date to June 30, 2018.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Accept the $85,580.25 Grant Award from the California Department of Public Health to ensure lab capacity and capability for Zika virus testing; and
b. Authorize the Director of Health or Assistant Director of Health to execute the Grant Agreement No. 16-11074 with the California Department of Public Health for implementation of the Zika Preparedness and Response project for a total Grant amount of $85,580.25 for the grant period from approval date to June 30, 2018.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County has a large binational population with residents that travel to and from Latin American countries that are impacted by Zika. The binational residents travel several times during the year for work and to support their international families.
The Monterey County Health Department's (MCHD) Public Health Laboratory (MCPHL) is unable to test patient specimens for Zika virus due to limited staff and equipment. Currently, specimens are sent to the California Department of Public Health's Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory (VRDL) for testing. VRDL is back-logged with testing, thus lab results can be delayed several weeks which can lead to undue stress on families and prohibit early intervention among residents testing positive. Because the MCPHL serves as a reference lab for San Benito County and Kings County, developing capacity for Zika virus testing benefits not only Monterey County but the surrounding health jurisdic...
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