Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday declared a public health emergency in four counties where cases of the Zika virus have been found. The declaration is for Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Lee and Santa Rosa counties. Scott's office said the state has found nine Zika cases in which the mosquito-borne disease was contracted outside Florida.
"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.
A case of Zika was first confirmed last year in Brazil, and outbreaks are occurring in other countries, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.