The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given Florida's Department of Health a $2.87 million grant to prevent the spread of HIV.
The grant is Florida's piece of $339 million in HIV prevention funding the CDC is giving to state health departments nationwide. It's the first of five installments to be allocated over the next five years. Florida received 9% of the total funding this year.
According to state health department spokeswoman Jessica Hammonds, the money will go toward reducing new infections, educating those living with HIV and linking HIV patients to care. Some of the funds will go to county health departments where the most HIV-positive patients live.
Florida has the third-highest rate of HIV in the country.
