Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is now prepared to test mosquitoes for the Zika virus. The laboratory, which is run by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, routinely tests for myriad animal diseases; however, Commissioner Putnam's department recently equipped the laboratory with the tools necessary to test mosquitoes for the Zika virus and trained scientists for this specific testing.

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam Readies Laboratory for Zika Mosquito Testing

May 3, 2016

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today announced that the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is now prepared to test mosquitoes for the Zika virus. The laboratory, which is run by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, routinely tests for myriad animal diseases; however, Commissioner Putnam's department recently equipped the laboratory with the tools necessary to test mosquitoes for the Zika virus and trained scientists for this specific testing.

“Florida leads the nation in the number of travel-related cases of Zika, and our climate makes us a hotbed for mosquitoes. Protecting Floridians and visitors from Zika requires widespread coordination and engagement at every level. As we continue to support the Florida Department of Health and local mosquito control programs, we will make every weapon in the arsenal available in this fight,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

The department is currently working with mosquito control programs to disseminate traps and train on how to prepare and submit mosquito samples for testing.

While the Florida Department of Health is the lead agency in this public health crisis, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is supporting efforts by:

• Regularly communicating with local mosquito control districts to discuss mosquito surveillance and control efforts;
• Providing technical assistance to mosquito control districts and the Department of Health regarding the CDC's arbovirus guidelines; and
• Obtaining and disseminating traps specifically for the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and preparing the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory to be able to test mosquito pools for the Zika virus.

For more information regarding Zika, visit the Florida Department of Health's website.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/News-Events/Press-Releases/2016-Press-Releases/Commissioner-Adam-H.-Putnam-Readies-Laboratory-for-Zika-Mosquito-Testing

 

 

MAY 3, 2016 5:32 PM

Florida now ready to test mosquitoes for Zika virus

 

The Associated Press

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TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture will begin testing mosquitoes for the Zika virus.

Commissioner Adam Putnam announced Tuesday that a department laboratory in Kissimmee is now equipped to test for the virus.

The same laboratory is used to test for animal diseases. The department is working with mosquito control districts to distribute traps and train them on how to submit samples.

Department spokeswoman Jennifer Meale said testing would begin within two weeks.

Florida leads the nation with 102 confirmed cases of the disease.

Zika has become epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. The virus is mainly spread through mosquito bites and causes mild illness or no symptoms in most people. But it can cause a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/health-care/article75398812.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/health-care/article75398812.html