A grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will help Hawaii health officials identify and monitor infectious diseases. 

The Hawaii Department of Health says the majority of the $290,000 grant will be used to fund an additional epidemiologist and training for existing field specialists and laboratory staff. 

The grant will help Hawaii health officials identify and monitor infectious diseases, including foodborne illnesses, vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and other public health threats. 

Health officials announced the grant Monday.