Fla. gov declares Zika health emergency in 4 counties

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott has declared a public health emergency in four Florida counties that have identified cases of Zika virus infections.

Nine cases of Zika have been identified to date throughout the state: Two in Lee County, four in Miami-Dade, two in Hillsborough and one in Santa Rosa. All were infected in Colombia, El Salvador, Haiti or Venezuela, according to the Florida Department of Health.

"Although Florida’s current nine Zika cases were travel-related, we have to ensure Florida is prepared and stays ahead of the spread of the Zika virus in our state," Scott said in a written statement this afternoon. "Our Department of Health will continue to be in constant communication with all county health offices, hospitals and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We know that we must be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best.”

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Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

There have been reports of a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age, and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant, according to the CDC.

Scott's executive order says residential areas should get special attention for mosquito spraying and directs the Department of Health to determine what other resources it might need from the state and the CDC to combat the spread of Zika.

Shelly Redovan, spokeswoman for the Lee County Mosquito Control District, called the declaration a "proactive" measure that frees up the district to perform extra spraying should that eventually be needed.

Contributing: Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal