Gov. Rick Scott requested Thursday that the Centers for Diseases Control provide an additional 1,300 Zika antibody tests to Florida to allow people, especially pregnant women and new mothers, to see if they have ever had the Zika virus.
Scott made the request during a call with the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Recommended Videos
"Since we had our first travel-related Zika case in Florida earlier this year, our state is doing everything we can to ensure we are prepared for the possible spread of the Zika virus. It is crucial that we have every available resource, and that is why I requested the CDC provide an additional 1,300 Zika antibody tests during my call with Director Frieden and Secretary Burwell today. I also reiterated the many unfulfilled requests we have made to the federal government since May. This includes providing 5,000 Zika preparation kits to the Florida Department of Health and fulfilling the requests made by nearly 30 counties, cities and mosquito control districts in Florida," Scott said.
Governor Scott has previously requested the following from the federal government:
- 5,000 Zika preparedness kits to our Department of Health
- Resources to enhance mosquito surveillance
- Resources to enhance mosquito abatement
- Resources to increase training for mosquito control technicians
- Resources to increase mosquito laboratory capacity
- Specific requests made by nearly 30 counties, cities, and mosquito districts for mosquito prevention to combat the Zika virus