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Surgeon General Wants To Know How Miami-Dade Is Spending Zika Funds

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

Florida’s Surgeon General wants to know how Miami-Dade County is spending state funds in combating the Zika virus.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Miami-Dade officials, Dr. Celeste Phililp says the state has sent $12 million to the county to combat Zika and she wants to make sure the mosquito-control strategies have been effective.

Philip requests a comprehensive report that details how effective efforts have been to kill mosquitoes that spread the virus.

The following information was requested by Nov. 4:

* A list of all the spraying that the county has done, including dates and locations

* Data on individual mosquito trap counts

* All research done on the efficacy of mosquito control measures

* Plans for controlling mosquitoes in the future

“I am confident that what we are learning about Zika and how to control Aedes mosquitoes in Miami-Dade will be beneficial to the state and the nation as we seek to eradicate the Zika virus,” Philip wrote in the letter. 

Julio Ochoa is editor of Health News Florida.