By Kyle Constable

www.ctmirror.org

State officials have nearly $1 million in new funds at their disposal to fight the Zika virus after receiving a pair of federal grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC is giving the Connecticut Department of Public Health two grants – a $579,000 grant announced Monday and a $400,000 grant announced today – to protect Connecticut residents from the Zika virus and monitor existing cases.

Florida’s governor announced Monday as many as 14 cases of the Zika virus in his state may have been locally transmitted – the first cases of the virus transmitted in the continental United States.

The $579,000 grant announced Monday will be used to “support and enhance the state’s efforts to protect Connecticut residents from Zika virus and monitor serious birth defects, like microcephaly, and other adverse health outcomes that can be caused by Zika virus,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office said.

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By James Lomuscio

To a round of applause, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) tonight unanimously approved an ordinance establishing a new Westport Commission on People with Disabilities.

Sarah Heath, the town’s new human services director, made the proposal, saying such a commission had been “almost 10 years in the making.”

The idea for a disabilities commission took root in 2007 when the Community Inclusion Task Force, which had been appointed by the Health & Human Services Commission and the Westport Weston United Way, issued its final report.

Heath said that creating the new town body would demonstrate “that Westport is a community where people with disabilities are valued,” and that they contribute to the town.

Individuals and teams from across Connecticut gathered at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion today to show their strength and determination to raise money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp during Mental Grit Fitness’ 7th Annual Push Against Cancer event. See video here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

CampFundRaiser from Talkingbox on Vimeo.

Some of the participants in today’s Mental Grit Fitness’ seventh annual Push Against Cancer event at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts to benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. During this friendly and fun push-up competition, participants challenged themselves to perform as many push-ups as possible with each participant getting family members, friends, co-workers and employers to sponsor their efforts. “We are so inspired by how the kids of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp find possibility in each challenge they face,” said Mental Grit Fitness owner and personal trainer Andy Berman. “Being able to face this fitness challenge and raise enough to send as many kids as possible to Camp seems a fitting tribute to them.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The state Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that a fourth Connecticut patient, a non-pregnant woman in her 30s, has tested positive for the Zika virus.

The patient traveled from the Caribbean to Connecticut on April 25 and became ill on April 29, the DPH said. Her symptoms included fever, rash and conjunctivitis. 

The patient and her physician have been informed of the test result.

The State Laboratory confirmed the patient’s test result using PCR testing. This level of testing is used for patients who are actively experiencing symptoms of the virus.