Today, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 16-29 which directs State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to declare a public health emergency in the four counties which have the Zika virus.
There are currently a total of nine travel-associated cases of the Zika virus across Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa Counties.
Governor Rick Scott said, “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. 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.”
While the nine Zika virus cases in Florida are all considered "travel related," there has been one sexually-transmitted case reported in Texas.
Governor Scott's Executive order can be found here.
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