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Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2016

As the first case of Zika surfaced in Manatee County, Congressman Vern Buchanan scolded Congress for adjourning for the summer without funding efforts to confront the deadly virus. Manatee County was one of 18 new travel-related cases reported by the Florida Department of Health on Friday — the largest number of new cases confirmed in a single day. Manatee […]

Keith MorelliJuly 8, 2016

U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan this week added his voice to the chorus urging immediate passage of a $1.1 billion bill to fight the spread of the dreaded Zika virus, and the Sarasota Republican blamed Senate Democrats for the log jam. Democrats this week pointed fingers at the Republicans, saying partisan politics was the reason the […]

Keith MorelliJuly 7, 2016

As the number of Zika cases in Florida mounts — 11 new cases were reported Wednesday, including one in Hillsborough County — state health officials have launched a campaign to educate children on the dangers of the virus and enlist their help in stemming the spread of disease-toting mosquitoes. The Florida Department of Health’s “Spill the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 7, 2016

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Sen. Bill Nelson is urging Senate leaders to bring back a $1.1 billion proposal that would help fight the spread of Zika. The request comes just one day after the Florida Department of Health announced 11 new cases of Florida, bringing the total number of travel-related cases in the Sunshine State to 263. In a letter Thursday, the Florida […]

Keith MorelliJune 28, 2016

The first case of microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development, has surfaced in Florida. The defect is caused by the Zika virus, which was contracted by the mother while in her native Haiti, authorities said. Officials with the Florida Department of Health confirmed the […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2016

An alleged $500 bribe has exposed a Florida Department of Health official to up to 20 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors in South Florida last week charged Anthony Johnson, an environmental supervisor based in Fort Lauderdale, in a corruption case involving sewer and water permits. Court records show two builders putting up a home […]

Keith MorelliJune 16, 2016

The numbers in eight polls taken since January 2015 vary widely as to whether people of Florida support the legalization of medical marijuana. But the polls all agree that over 60 percent — the percentage needed to pass Amendment 2 in November’s general election — said they were ready to vote yes on the change […]

Keith MorelliJune 14, 2016

An update offered by the Florida Department of Health on the approaching availability of medical marijuana was rife with technical and legal language, but really broke no new ground other than to further emphasize the strictness of rules and regulations regarding the use of pot by patients with various medical problems. The main thrust delivered […]

Associated PressMay 26, 2016

Florida has received less than half of the special traps it has ordered to help detect the Zika virus in mosquitoes, and nationwide the only U.S. distributor of the traps has a backlog of almost 1,950 orders from governments and private businesses, officials said Thursday. State workers in Florida had ordered more than 300 of […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2016

The number of children showing up to school with their required shots is dropping according to the Florida Department of Health. New data sent to the state’s 67 school districts on Friday showed that nearly 93 percent of kindergarten students and 90.6 percent of seventh-graders had their required immunizations this year. The department stated that’s […]

Tag: Florida Department of Health

Vern Buchanan urges action as first Zika case reported in Manatee County

Vern Buchanan urges Senate to pass Zika bill, blames Democrats

Latest in Zika battle: Enlist kids to ‘Spill the Water’

Bill Nelson urges Mitch McConnell to bring back Senate’s $1.1B Zika funding proposal

Florida records birth of first baby with Zika-related birth defects

Department of Health official charged with taking bribe

8 polls show voters ready to pass Florida medical marijuana amendment

Florida Health Department update on medical pot — long on jargon, short on new info

Nationwide backlog of traps to detect Zika virus

Rising number of Florida children skipping out on shots