Wednesday, October 13, 2010

CDC awards $5.25 million for state and local climate change programs

Media Newswire: Eight states and two cities will receive a total of $5.25 million for climate change prevention initiatives, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. The awards for a three-year funding period will support health departments in meeting the public health challenges of climate change. The funding recipients are Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and New York City and San Francisco.

The programs will address health impacts including heat- related illness, animal- and insect-related illness, food- and water-borne diseases, conditions that worsen allergies and respiratory problems, and health effects linked to intense weather events.

CDC is funding two types of activities to expand capacity in health departments. Some health departments will use the funds to conduct risk assessments identifying the most likely health impacts and most threatened populations. Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and San Francisco each will receive up to $360,000 over the next three years for this type of assessment and planning.

Health departments that already know their likely climate change health needs and vulnerable populations will begin developing strategies and projects to protect those communities. Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon and New York City each will receive up to $750,000 over the next three years.

"Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges to public health in the 21st century," said Christopher Portier, Ph.D., director of CDC's National Center for Environmental Health. "These projects will lead the way in anticipating and preparing for those extreme weather events and their impact and reducing the burden on the health of our communities."…

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