Diaz-Balart Receives Briefings from Mosquito Control Leaders in Collier, Hendry, and Miami-Dade Counties
MIAMI – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) released the following statement after he was briefed by leaders of the local mosquito control departments of Collier, Hendry, and Miami-Dade Counties. He began the day by meeting with Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak, Miami-Dade County Chief of Staff Alex Ferro, Chief of Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Lee Casey, Deputy Director of Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Paul Mauriello, and Miami-Dade Mosquito Control Operations Manager Chalmers Vasquez at the county’s mosquito control department. He was also briefed by Hendry County Mosquito Control District Director Shane Parker, and ended the day meeting with Patrick Linn, Director of Collier County Mosquito Control District.
“I’m grateful for the frontline efforts of these local community officials. It is critical that Miami-Dade County’s two local transmission areas are contained and eventually eliminated. Collier and Hendry Counties’ geographic distance to these zones make them susceptible, but with the right preventative actions, it can and will be evaded. Whether it is research and development for a vaccine or additional funds for mosquito control efforts, I remain committed to ensuring the federal government provides all of the necessary resources to respond to Zika. We must fund and spend every dollar needed to combat, prevent, and treat this disease and not one penny less. I will continue to collaborate with our local leaders and my congressional colleagues as we work together toward the eradication of the Zika virus.”
Read background on Congressman Diaz-Balart’s Zika response efforts here.
Congressman Diaz-Balart (R) is briefed by Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak (L) and Deputy Director of Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Paul Mauriello (C).
Congressman Diaz-Balart (C) speaks with Collier Mosquito Control District Director Patrick Linn (L) and Collier Mosquito Control District Research Entomologist Dr. Mark Clifton (R) about the county’s efforts to prevent the spread of local transmission to Southwest Florida.