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Florida governor declares Zika emergency

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A health worker displayed larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes found inside a warehouse during an operation to combat the mosquitoes that transmits the Zika virus, in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, on Jan. 26. Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a health emergency in four counties after at least nine cases of the mosquito-borne illness were detected in the state.

TAMPA, Fla. » Gov. Rick Scott has declared a health emergency in four counties due to the Zika virus.

At least nine cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been detected in Florida. Health officials believe all of the cases are from people who contracted the disease while traveling to affected countries.

Scott signed the order today to cover Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough and Santa Rosa counties.

The Zika virus is linked to brain deformities in babies and is causing concern among public health officials worldwide. The virus is primarily spread through mosquito bites, but investigators had been exploring the possibility it could be sexually transmitted.

U.S. health officials say a person in Texas became infected with Zika through sex, in the first case of the illness being transmitted within the United States.

6 responses to “Florida governor declares Zika emergency”

  1. serious says:

    Yes, a Republican Governor doesn’t take chances. Same State that turned down the Federal rail carrot because they couldn’t determine the future maintenance costs–but SOME State–?????

    • bsdetection says:

      That’s a funny idea – Republican Governor Rick Scott doesn’t take chances. I would think that committing the biggest Medicare fraud in US history, resulting in his company paying $1.7 billion in penalties, would involve taking a few chances.

    • TigerEye says:

      LOL. It was just a matter of time before you brought the rail into this Zika virus story.

  2. butinski says:

    The Zika virus is spreading rapidly. Thought to have originated in tropical regions (Zika is named from Zika Uganda) and has been around Polynesia for some time. Results in deformed babies, with small heads and permanent mental deficieny. I predict you’ll see a lot more abortions to follow in the U.S. A true test of those for or against aborting for any reason.

  3. Oahuan says:

    Meanwhile our one term governor Ige sits on his okole twiddling his thumbs.

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