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The Florida Roundup: The Zika Virus In South Florida

Source: Monroe County Mosquito Control, Lee County Mosquito Control, Miami-Dade County Budget, Broward County Budget, Plam Beach County Budget.
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

As local cases ofZikavirus continue to increase, this  week The Florida Roundup dedicated its full hour to an analysis of the political and economic dimensions of the outbreak of this virus in South Florida.

A square mile of Miami is now the hot zone for Zika and the threat of the virus-carrying mosquitoes. Pregnant women are warned about the neighborhood as aerial spraying begins. Where are the bugs? How big of a threat is Zika? And to whom?

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With a small mosquito control budget in Miami-Dade, what are the local efforts to fight the pest? From cans of repellent to a plane spraying an insecticide over downtown Miami,Wynwoodand parts ofOvertownand Little Haiti, the battle continues.

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And the politics overZikamoney continues. Federal money to fight the virus is running low and Congress hasn’t approved any more. We talk with Frederica Wilson, the Democratic congresswoman who represents theZikadistrict.

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The Florida Roundup: The Zika Virus In South Florida

The Florida Roundup: The Zika Virus In South Florida

Bridget O'Brien produces WLRN's The Florida Roundup as well as morning newscasts. A long-time public radio geek, she feels that audio journalism can take a story beyond text and allows listeners to truly connect through the power of voice. With a background in drama, she brings a theatrical element to everything she does.