Florida Declares Zika Virus Health Emergency

TAMPA, FL — Gov. Rick Scott has declared a public health emergency in four counties where residents have been confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus. One of those counties is Hillsborough.

“Today I am directing Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to declare a public health emergency in the four counties that have individuals with the Zika virus,” Scott said in a statement. “Although Florida’s current nine Zika cases were travel-related, we have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state. Our Department of Health will continue to be in constant communication with all county health offices, hospitals and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We know that we must be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best.”

The Florida Department of Health announced Tuesday that it had reported a total of nine travel-related Zika virus cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two cases have been reported in Hillsborough County. The others involve residents from Miami-Dade, Lee and Santa Rosa counties.

See Also:

• Zika Virus: What Tampa Bay Residents Need To Know
• 6 More Cases Of Zika Virus Reported In Florida
• First Zika Case Transmitted In U.S. Reported In Texas

Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. According to the state, only about one out of five people infected with Zika are symptomatic. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.

It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Several reports have linked Zika in mothers with microcephaly in infants, the CDC says, a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes. The first case of Zika virus transmitted in the United States was reported in Texas this week.

Scott’s order authorizes the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to issue a mosquito declaration in the four impacted counties. It also instructs that special attention for mosquito spraying should be paid in residential areas within those counties, “as CDC guidance indicates that backpack mosquito spray measures may be most effective.”

To read Scott’s full order, visit the governor’s office online.

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