Fight Against Superbugs Gets Dramatic Funding Increase Under Omnibus

"Federal agencies engaged in the battle against deadly superbugs would get their biggest funding increase ever in the congressional spending deal unveiled this week. The budget blueprint would provide at least $375 million in new funds for the 2016 fiscal year to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, one of the biggest health threats facing the United States and the rest of the world.

The funds would increase government spending on antibiotic resistance by about 57 percent compared to fiscal 2015, according to congressional budget documents.

The largest chunk, $160 million, would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build and strengthen efforts by state and local health departments to prevent and monitor superbug outbreaks. The money would also bolster regional lab capability. The National Institutes of Health would get an increase of $100 million for research on combating antimicrobial resistance. Another agency, known as BARDA, which works on national preparedness for chemical and biological threats, would get an increase of $96 million to explore new therapies."

Lena H. Sun reports for the Washington Post December 17, 2015.