JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says the state now has a designated Ebola testing lab approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nixon on Friday announced that the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory can test Ebola samples before a confirmation testing with the CDC.
There currently are no cases of Ebola in Missouri, but Nixon says the Jefferson City lab could help rule out or confirm potential cases.
Nixon asked the Department of Health and Senior Services to apply for the designation earlier this month. The department director says it received approval from the CDC on Thursday.
Nixon also announced he's releasing $3.3 million for local public health agencies. Local health agencies for weeks had been calling for him to release those funds.