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Feds Help Florida With Zika Tests
February 10, 2016
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent 950 antibody tests to Florida to help determine whether people have contracted the Zika virus. A public health emergency has been declared in Santa Rosa and six other counties due to the virus.
The 950 came in addition to 475 antibody tests already on hand, giving the state a total of 1,425, according to a statement from Gov. Rick Scott’s office.
Florida has 16 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus. Each of the cases is believed to have been travel-related rather than acquired in Florida, state officials say. Miami-Dade County has the largest number of cases, with six.
Zika was detected last year in Brazil and has spread to other countries.
“We appreciate that the CDC sent 950 Zika antibody tests to Florida so we can better test those who have traveled to affected areas and had symptoms of Zika,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “While having these tests readily available is great progress, we are still waiting on the CDC to schedule a conference call with Florida hospital workers to ensure they fully understand the symptoms, treatments and proper precautions for Zika. We will continue to do all we can to ensure our state is prepared for the possible spread of the Zika virus.”
by The News Service of Florida
Comments
3 Responses to “Feds Help Florida With Zika Tests”
Holding ponds and ditches can be big problem in regards to mosquito breeding. If you are talking about the Zika virus then you don’t need to worry about holding ponds and ditches. The two mosquitoes that are responsible for spreading Zika are Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti. These two mosquitoes breed in artificial containers, such as, buckets, tarps, bird baths, etc. People grow them in their yards.
I believe the holding ponds in North Escambia DO contribute to the mosquito problem immensely. We had a call to dump standing water in a flower pot while pond are being dug all around us. Do you maintain wetlands or drain them? The stormwater has to go somewhere. I read the water should be taken away in ditches.
Wondering how much the many holding ponds, roadside ditches and other places where water seems to always be standing contribute to the mosquito problem?
Seems that some of that BP / Deepwater Horizon money should be used to actually fix or maintain the infrastructure instead of throwing it behind some goofy project that the BOCC wants to do.