2014 Ebola Response Supplemental Funding: PHEP Supplemental Funding for Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities

The Ebola virus epidemic is a top national security issue, and CDC’s first priority is to protect Americans. In December of 2014, Congress appropriated funding for emergency Ebola treatment and prevention measures in the United States and in West Africa.

CDC received approximately $155 million to support state and local Ebola preparedness and response activities. CDC is providing $145 million in supplemental funding to the current 62 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement awardees to support accelerated state and local public health preparedness planning and operational readiness for responding to Ebola. Eligible applicants include the 50 states, 8 territories and freely associated states, and 4 localities (Chicago, Los Angeles County, New York City, and Washington, D.C.).

A portion of the remaining $10 million in funding will be used to hire and place around the United States a maximum of 10 temporary epidemiology field assignees for a period of up to two years. These field assignees will support state and local health departments in one or more of the following areas:

1. active monitoring contact, data collection, data analysis, and reporting;
2. evaluation and management of persons under investigation;
3. planning for and conducting surveillance, contact tracing, and epidemiologic investigations;
4. health systems preparation, including transport services, hospital preparedness, and infection prevention;
5. incident management; and
6. health communications.

The remaining funding will be used to support CDC’s state and local response activities.

PHEP Supplemental Funding for Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities

The $145 million in PHEP supplemental funding is intended to support accelerated public health preparedness planning for Ebola within state, local, territorial, and tribal public health systems. With this funding, CDC supports accelerated state and local planning and operational readiness for responding to Ebola by:

• Improving and assuring operational readiness for Ebola; supporting state, local, territorial, and tribal Ebola public health response efforts
• Assuring collaboration, coordination, and partnership with the jurisdiction’s healthcare system to assist in the development of a tiered system for Ebola patient care.
• Strengthening existing partnerships public health preparedness programs have built with healthcare, epidemiology, and laboratory colleagues in their jurisdictions.
• Establishing new partnerships with infection control program sin their jurisdictions to advance the development of stronger healthcare system infection control programs.

The Ebola supplemental funding is for 18 months; the project period begin April 1, 2015, and ends September 30, 2016.

• PHEP Supplemental Funding for Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities Guidance
• PHEP Supplemental Funding for Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities Funding Table

PHEP Supplemental for Ebola Virus Disease Active Monitoring and Direct Active Monitoring Activities

In December 2014, CDC awarded $4,726,415 in Ebola supplemental funding to support development and implementation of active monitoring (AM) and direct active monitoring (DAM) of travelers who may have been exposed to Ebola. Funding was provided by the HHS Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF).

• PHEP Supplemental for Ebola Virus Disease Active Monitoring and Direct Active Monitoring Activities
• PHEP Supplemental for Ebola Virus Disease Active Monitoring and Direct Active Monitoring Activities Funding Table

Helping States Prepare

Although the risk of an Ebola outbreak in the United States is very low, CDC and partners are taking precautions to prevent transmission from happening in the US. Together with the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, we released the Ebola Concept of Operations (ConOps) template, which provides a standard format for creating an Ebola plan for a state, territorial, or major metropolitan area jurisdiction.

The template provides information on measures local governments, agencies, and organizations can take to support the plan. While the template is specific to Ebola preparedness and response, elements of the plan can be used to support preparedness activities for other infectious diseases and hazards.