Legacy Community Health Services, located in Houston, is doing its part to combat Zika by screening pregnant women and testing individuals at risk, according to npr.
Here are seven things to know:
1. The federally qualified health center has met a roadblock, however, as tested pregnant women often have to wait a month for results indicating whether they are infected.
2. That month-long wait is due to the state public health laboratory's process to test the blood samples.
3. Since about 80 percent of those infected with Zika don't display symptoms, a test is the only surefire way to confirm contraction.
3. This lengthy Zika test result process is plaguing the entire nation, not just Texas, as public health departments are finding it difficult to keep up with demand.
4. Congress' recent approval of $1.1 billion in emergency funding could enhance lab resources, so people can learn more quickly if they're infected.
5. The federal government commented $394 million of this emergency funding will go to the CDC, supporting Zika response and research efforts.
6. The government also noted some of the emergency funding will go toward lab capacity expansion, but did not disclose the exact amount. HHS must offer a spending plan by the end of October.
7. Public health labs are still concerned, despite a boost in funding, as they likely won't see this help until 2017.
