Feb. 12, 2016

SURGEON GENERAL DR. JOHN ARMSTRONG'S DAILY ZIKA UPDATE

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla. - In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware about the status of the Zika virus, State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong will issue a Zika virus update each week day at 2 p.m. Updates will include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared.

As of today, two new Zika cases have been confirmed with one in Alachua County and one additional case in Broward County. Dr. Armstrong’s Declaration of Public Health Emergency has been expanded to include Alachua County.

Today, Governor Rick Scott directed State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The hotline will be managed by the Department of Health, and will answer questions on the Zika virus and the state’s preparedness efforts. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.

Yesterday, at the request of Governor Scott, the CDC hosted a conference call with Florida health care professionals - including OBGYNS, doctors and those who work with pregnant women - on how Zika is spread, its symptoms, treatments and proper precautions. Nearly 600 phone lines dialed in to participate in the briefing and question and answer session.

All cases are travel-associated. There have been no locally-acquired cases of Zika in Florida. None of the confirmed cases involve pregnant women. For more information on the Zika virus, click here.

State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong urges Floridians to drain standing water weekly, no matter how seemingly small. A couple drops of water in a bottle cap can be a breeding location for mosquitoes. Residents and visitors also need to use repellents when enjoying the Florida outdoors.

More Information on DOH action on Zika:

• Last week, Governor Scott directed State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong to issue a Declaration of Public Health Emergency for the counties of residents with travel-associated cases of Zika.

• • The Declaration currently includes the eight effected counties – Alachua, Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Osceola, Santa Rosa and St. Johns – and will be updated as needed. 

• According to the CDC, Zika illness is generally mild with a rash, fever and joint pain. CDC researchers are examining a possible link between the virus and harm to unborn babies exposed during pregnancy.

• DOH has a robust mosquito-borne illness surveillance system and is working with the CDC, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and local county mosquito control boards to ensure that the proper precautions are being taken to protect Florida residents and visitors.

• DOH encourages Florida residents and visitors to protect themselves from all mosquito-borne illnesses by draining standing water; covering their skin with repellent and clothing; and covering windows with screens.

• Florida currently has the capacity to test 5,079 people for active Zika virus and 1,402 for Zika antibodies.

For more information on Zika virus, click here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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