Commissioner Murman quoted in this Tampa Bay Business Journal article on Zika virus:

Zika cases lead Scott to declare health emergency, including Hillsborough

Feb 3, 2016, 4:50pm EST Updated: Feb 3, 2016, 5:12pm EST

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.

There are two reported cases of Zika virus in Hillsborough County and residents have lots of concerns and questions, Commissioner Sandy Murman said at Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. She urged county officials to provide information specifically to neighborhood associations and to physicians who see pregnant women.

“Everything is on our website, hillsboroughcounty.org/mosquito,” said Liana Lopez, chief communications administrator. “We are also pushing information out on social and we’re in contact with the Department of Health as the lead agency for everything that we’re doing from a communications standpoint.”

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.

Margie Manning, Tampa Bay Business Journal Finance Editor, contributed to this report.