Gov. Janet Napolitano said today that Arizona is slated to receive another $26 million in federal funds to bolster the state’s ability to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.

“We are committed to protecting the public against bioterrorism and infectious disease outbreaks,” Gov. Napolitano said.

Arizona will receive the funds through two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants: $17 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for strengthening public health preparedness, and $9 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration to help hospitals and emergency responders deal with mass casualty events.

The funds are part of $1.3 billion made available for states, territories and metropolitan areas. In an announcement today, HHS said the funds will be used to upgrade infectious disease surveillance and investigation, enhance the readiness of hospitals and the health care system to deal with large numbers of casualties, expand public health laboratory and communications capacities.

HHS said it will provide resources for Arizona and other states bordering Mexico for the development and implementation of a program to provide effective detection, investigation and reporting or urgent infectious disease case reports along the border.

Funds also will go to expand the Cities Readiness Initiative in Phoenix and 20 other pilot cities. The program is designed to ensure the cities are prepared to deliver oral medications to residents during a public health emergency.