Florida Governor Rick Scott News

Hurricane Michael Headed Towards Florida Panhandle, 13 Killed by Storm in Central America

Florida’s governor mobilized National Guard troops and ordered Gulf Coast residents to head inland or evacuate as Hurricane Michael churned toward shore on Monday, with the storm forecast to strengthen rapidly before making landfall on Wednesday. Michael was expected to …

One Area of Miami Declared Zika-Free While Zika Zone in Miami Beach Expanded

Authorities declared a victory Monday in stemming further infections of Zika in Miami’s Wynwood arts district, but continued to caution pregnant women about traveling to the city and surrounding areas out of concerns for catching the virus. The U.S. Centers …

Zika Case Found in Florida County Hundreds of Miles From Miami

Florida officials on Tuesday announced the first case of Zika acquired by local mosquitoes in Pinellas County, located some 265 miles (425 km) from Miami, where the first locally transmitted U.S. cases were reported. Florida Governor Rick Scott also said …

Officials: No Long-Term Impact on Florida Tourism Expected Despite Zika Spread

The discovery of Zika-carrying mosquitoes in South Florida certainly isn’t ideal for tourism, but local officials and business leaders are confident the long-term impact on the tourism industry will be minor. Transmission of the virus via mosquito has been confirmed …

Source: Locally Transmitted Zika Virus Found in Miami Beach

Florida health officials have found evidence of local Zika virus transmission in Miami Beach, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, opening a new front in the fight against the mosquito-borne virus, according to a source familiar with the …

Back-to-School Brings New Challenges in Florida’s Zika Fight

Florida’s caseload of Zika spread by Miami mosquitoes had risen to 25 as of August 11, and U.S. health officials continue to warn pregnant women to avoid the infection zone despite the governor’s assurances that the area of concern is …

Miami’s Popular Wynwood District Says Zika Reports Killing Business

Business has plummeted in Miami’s Wynwood arts district since Zika infections were reported there, according to gallery and restaurant owners who want government officials to speed up their response and help offset their losses. At an emergency meeting Monday, the …

Florida Calls on Feds for Help as Number of Zika Cases Jumps to 14

The state of Florida has identified 10 more cases of Zika virus caused by local mosquitoes and has asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to send in experts to help with its investigation of the outbreak. The …

Florida Says Zika Mosquitoes Likely in State

Health officials in Florida on Friday reported the first cases of local transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in continental United States. The Florida department of health has concluded that the four reported cases of the virus are likely mosquito-borne, …

Florida Governor Orders Random Audits of 100-Plus Hospitals

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is ordering state health officials to audit more than 100 hospitals as part of his ongoing battle with hospitals, which he says are driving up Medicaid costs. The state had asked hospitals and insurers to prove …