Additional $7M allocated to Miami-Dade County to combat Zika

147 non-travel related Zika transmissions to date.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health will allocate $7.4 million in additional state funding to Miami-Dade County to combat the spread of the Zika virus through mosquito control.

The funding will be used for additional mosquito control staff and increased mosquito spraying. The funding is part of the $61.2 million in state funds Gov. Rick Scott authorized for Zika preparedness since June.

To date, Miami-Dade has received $12.6 million in state funds.

Miami-Dade County has 147 cases of locally transmitted Zika and 728 travel-related cases.

“We are working to aggressively fight this virus, but it is clear that more resources are needed to keep Floridians safe,” Scott said

Scott added that the state has multiple outstanding requests to the federal government.

The Florida Department of Health continues door-to-door outreach and targeted testing in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, and mosquito abatement and reduction activities are also taking place around the locations that are being investigated. DOH said they believe ongoing transmission is only taking place within the identified area in Miami Beach in Miami-Dade County.

The DOH is currently conducting 16 active investigations and has closed 26 others. Click here for more information regarding investigations.

More than 8,928 people statewide have been tested for the Zika virus to date. Florida currently has the capacity to test 5,957 people for active Zika virus and 7,130 for Zika antibodies. At Gov. Scott’s direction, all county health departments now offer free Zika risk assessment and testing to pregnant women.

“Our state will continue to dedicate every available resource to keeping pregnant women and their developing children safe and healthy,” Scott said.

The DOH said Florida’s small case cluster is not considered widespread transmission, however, pregnant women are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the impacted area in Miami-Dade County.

If you are pregnant and must travel, or if you live or work in the impacted area, protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent, long clothing and limiting your time outdoors.

Pregnant women can contact their local county health department for Zika risk assessment and testing hours and information. A Zika risk assessment will be conducted by county health department staff and blood and/or urine samples may be collected and sent to labs for testing. It may take one to two weeks to receive results.

Florida has been monitoring pregnant women with evidence of Zika regardless of symptoms. The total number of pregnant women who have been or are being monitored is 104.

Click here for more information on DOH action and federal guidance.