![US Allocates Funding For Technology To Eliminate Zika Virus In Blood Supply](https://www.srjnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/US-Allocates-Funding-For-Technology-To-Eliminate-Zika-Virus-In-Blood-Supply.jpg)
Two pathogen reduction technologies is said to be funded by the US government to help reduce the Zika virus risk along with other typs of infections too from being transmitted through blood supply.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Monday to be allocating $30.8 million to Cerus Corp and $17.5 million to the US division of Japan’s Terumo Crop through its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) unit.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier approved the Cerus’s Intercept technology to reduce pathogens in platelets and plasma. Trial is under process.
The deal between BARDA and Cerus to include $10.7 million and help evaluate bolld system safety in Puerto Rico.
In a released statement the HHS said, “Both systems have been shown to reduce the presence of certain bacteria, viruses and parasites in blood components, though to varying degrees.”
After the announcement the shares of Cerus were up to as high as $6.37.