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Florida gov offers free Zika test kits for pregnant women
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Rick Scott says pregnant women statewide can get a free Zika test to determine whether they’ve been infected with the mosquito-borne virus.
Scott directed state health officials Wednesday to make the tests available at county health departments and also said the state would provide additional lab services to handle the expected increase to ensure test results are processed quickly.
Health officials last Friday announced that mosquitoes have apparently started spreading Zika on the U.S. mainland, with a total now of 15 cases they strongly believe were caused by bites. In an unprecedented warning, federal health officials directed pregnant women to avoid a Zika-stricken part of Miami.
Wednesday’s announcement comes as some doctors have complained they were being forced to ration test kits and turn away pregnant women who were requesting them.
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