Florida Offers Free Zika Testing For All Pregnant Residents

[niman]

While this is good news, and proof that our education and mosquito control efforts are working, we will not become complacent and will continue to aggressively fight against the Zika virus. For this reason, I have directed DOH to make Zika testing available to all pregnant women who would like to be tested at county health departments statewide at no cost. We know Zika is most harmful to pregnant women and their babies and we must work to protect them.

http://www.flgov.com/2016/08/03/gov-scott-florida-continues-to-dedicate-every-available-resource-to-combat-zika/

[niman]

Gov. Scott: Florida Continues to Dedicate Every Available Resource to Combat Zika

On August 3, 2016, in News Releases, by Staff

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Department of Health has confirmed that there are no new locally acquired Zika infections to report today. Additionally, the Governor has directed the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to provide Zika testing to pregnant women at all county health departments at no cost. To ensure that Zika tests are processed as quickly as possible, DOH will make available additional lab services to handle the expected increase in tests being administered.

Governor Scott said, “Today, the Florida Department of Health confirmed that there are no new cases of local Zika infection, meaning the state total for locally transmitted infections stands at 15. At this time, DOH continues to believe that active local transmissions are only occurring in the same one square mile area of Miami. While this is good news, and proof that our education and mosquito control efforts are working, we will not become complacent and will continue to aggressively fight against the Zika virus. For this reason, I have directed DOH to make Zika testing available to all pregnant women who would like to be tested at county health departments statewide at no cost. We know Zika is most harmful to pregnant women and their babies and we must work to protect them.

“As I have said before, Florida has a proven track record of success when it comes to managing similar mosquito-borne viruses. Since February, DOH has conducted Zika testing for more than 2,400 people statewide, and more than 340 people have been tested in the impacted area since July 7^th. Our testing is increasing every day and more than 140 people have been tested in the impacted area in the past three days.

“In addition to testing, communities like Miami-Dade County are also ramping up mosquito abatement and mitigation efforts. In Miami-Dade County, they are working hard to increase spraying, including aerial spraying, in the impacted area. We will continue to do everything possible to keep our residents and visitors safe.”

On February 12^th, Governor Scott directed the State Surgeon General to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.

To find the county health department nearest to you, click HERE.

The exact location of where DOH believes there are active transmissions of the Zika virus is within the boundaries of the following area: NW 5^th Avenue to the west, US 1 to the east, NW/NE 38^thStreet to the north and NW/NE 20^th Street to the south. This area is about one square mile and a map is below to detail the area. 

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