Commissioner Murman mentioned in this Tampa Bay Times article on Governor’s visit:
Scott meets with Hillsborough leaders as state investigates Pinellas Zika case
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 12:29pm
TAMPA — It may be up to two weeks before state health officials can determine if the locally transmitted case of the Zika virus in Pinellas County is isolated or is evidence that mosquitoes are spreading the infection, state officials said today.
But the emergence of a potential mosquito-borne case in Pinellas has community leaders anxious to take action, including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who said the city is considering contracting with firms for additional mosquito spraying, a function that is the responsibility of Hillsborough County.
One day after Florida Department of Health officials announced the Pinellas case, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Surgeon General Celeste Philip met to discuss the state’s response with leaders in Hillsborough, including Buckhorn, County Commissioner Sandy Murman, schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins and state Reps. Dana Young and Janet Cruz.
Philip said even before the Pinellas case was confirmed, mosquito abatement efforts were stepped up around locations where the resident was known to have spent time.
Despite calls from U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Belleair Bluffs, for residents to get more information, Philip said the department won’t reveal where the woman lives unless it is classified as an active transmission zone.
That would require the presence of additional related infections. So far, people who were in close contact with the infected resident, who lives in Pinellas but works in Hillsborough, have tested negative for Zika, Philip said.
An epidemiological investigation into the case is still trying to determine how the woman contracted the virus and to identify areas where she may have exposed people to the infection or may have been exposed to mosquitoes for a length of time.
Buckhorn, who on Monday announced that city code enforcement and neighborhood services workers will target areas of standing water with briquets that kill mosquito larvae, said he wants to do more.
“I’m not certain the urban areas are going to get the attention they deserve,” Buckhorn said. “I’m not averse as a mayor to aggressive effort within the city to do additional spraying.”
Contact Christopher O’Donnell at codonnell@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_Times.
