Florida Department of Health News

Florida Medical Marijuana Law Signed by Scott

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation Friday to implement the medical marijuana amendment voters approved last year. Amendment 2, approved by 71 percent of the voters in November, took effect on Jan. 3 and required that laws had to be …

Florida Gov Pledges to Sign Medical Marijuana Bill Passed During Special Session

Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he “absolutely” intends to sign the medical marijuana bill passed Friday by the state Legislature. After the original legislation fell apart on the final day of the regular session last month, the chambers approved the …

Florida Starts Issuing Medical Marijuana ID Cards

Florida health officials who oversee the medical marijuana program have started processing identification card applications for patients and caregivers. The cards, which are issued through the Office of Compassionate Use, are part of regulations passed by the Florida Legislature last …

Food Poisoning Suspected of Sickening 28 Kids at Florida Science Fair

Authorities say more than two dozen kids attending a science competition in north Florida fell ill and were taken to the hospital after eating a catered lunch. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page that 28 children …

Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes Found in New Area of Miami Beach

More Zika-carrying mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach, this time in a new neighborhood. The Florida Department of Agriculture said Saturday that it’s the sixth time Zika-bearing mosquitoes have been captured in Miami Beach. It was the first capture …

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 …

Florida Takes Zika Fight to the Air, Begins Pesticide Spraying Over South Beach

Aerial spraying of the insecticide naled is scheduled over South Beach in Florida, where more mosquitoes have tested positive for the Zika virus. In a statement Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the flights recommended by Florida health officials …

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 …