Alabama Governor’s office approves emergency funding to fight Zika

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – The governor’s office says the governor has approved the use of emergency funds up to $250,000 to fight mosquitoes and the Zika virus.

Gov. Robert Bentley said in a statement Friday that the Alabama Department of Public Health had requested assistance with its Zika mitigation funding.

Bentley says he doesn’t necessarily think the agency will need the money, but wanted to make sure it was available so the state could move quickly if need be.

So far, Florida is the only state with local transmission of the Zika virus.

But the state’s health officer, Tom Miller, says it’s “very likely” Alabama will have local transmission of the virus through mosquitoes similar to what Florida is experiencing.

The mosquito-borne illness, which can cause severe birth defects, including stunted heads.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)