Scott going to Washington this week on Zika issue

Gov. Rick Scott this week will go to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to fund the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus, as the disease continues to be detected in Miami-Dade County.

The governor intends to be in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, after postponing a similar trip this week so he could oversee the cleanup from Hurricane Hermine.

Friday's announcement from Scott's office came as the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said it had detected Zika in another mosquito sample in an area of Miami Beach.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam approved a 45-day extension of a "mosquito declaration" that involves increased mosquito-control measures.

"Despite relentless efforts by the city and the county, this new discovery shows that the Zika threat continues to grow," Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine said in a prepared statement.

The virus, which also can also be transmitted sexually, is particularly dangerous to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued travel advisories for a part of Miami Beach and the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami.

 

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Nassau County has one travel-related case of the Zika virus, the Florida Department of Health announced Monday.

 

The state added seven travel-related cases of the Zika virus Monday, with two in Miami-Dade, two in Palm Beach and two involving pregnant women, in addition to the Nassau County case.

 

The total number of infections involving pregnant women climbed to 86. The DOH does not indicate the counties in which the women live.

 

The state has found a total of 621 travel-related infections of Zika, and 64 non-travel-related cases. 


President Barack Obama requested Congress allocate $1.9 billion for the Zika fight in February.

Congress has been unable to agree on a funding plan.

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