59°F
weather icon Clear

US shifts $81M to fund research for Zika vaccine

CHICAGO — The U.S. government has shifted $34 million in funding to the National Institutes of Health and $47 million to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to work on Zika vaccines.

The announcement was made in a letter from Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell addressed to Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat and minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Burwell said the funding was intended to keep Zika vaccine research going despite the lack of funding from U.S. lawmakers, who left for summer recess before allocating any funding to Zika research and preparedness.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Some colleges with pro-Palestinian protests begin taking a tougher stance

Tensions have continued to ratchet up in standoffs with protesters on campuses across the U.S. nearly three weeks into a movement launched by a protest at Columbia University.

Pro-Palestinian student protests spread across Europe

In recent days, students have held protests or set up encampments in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and Britain.

TikTok sues US over law to ban platform without sale

The social media platform and its Chinese parent company argue in the lawsuit that the law is a violation of the First Amendment.

Israeli forces seize Rafah crossing in Gaza

White House says incursion is short of the full-fledged offensive into Rafah that Israel has planned.

Hamas accepts proposal for cease-fire in war with Israel

Hours later, Israel launches strikes on Rafah, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says talks on cease-fire agreement will continue.