Feb. 24, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY: STATE SURGEON GENERAL DR. JOHN ARMSTRONG TO TESTIFY BEFORE U.S. CONGRESS ON ZIKA VIRUS READINESS

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health, Dr. John Armstrong will testify before the United States Congress Transportation and Public Assets Subcommittee on Wednesday. Dr. Armstrong will discuss Florida’s response and preparations to the Zika virus based on CDC guidance to ensure residents and visitors are safe.

About Dr. John H. Armstrong

John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS, was appointed by Governor Rick Scott as Surgeon General and Secretary of Health for the State of Florida on April 27, 2012. Dr. Armstrong is responsible for protecting and promoting health for all Florida residents and visitors, which includes public awareness of health issues such as mosquito-borne illness, emerging disease threats and HIV/AIDS. Additionally, as a patient undergoing treatment for colon cancer has made it his priority to make Florida the cancer research capital of the world.

What: Transportation and Public Assets Subcommittee Hearing: “The Zika Virus: Coordination of a Multi-Agency Response”

When: Feb. 24, 2016 at 2 p.m. EST

Where: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
               Washington, D.C. 20515

The hearing will be streamed onlinehere.

In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware about the status of the Zika virus, Dr. John Armstrong issues a Zika virus update each week day at 2 p.m. All updates can be viewed in the department’s newsroom site. Updates include a CDC-confirmed Zika case count by county and information to better keep Floridians prepared.

For more information on Zika virus, click here.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.