Disease

Puerto Rico declares influenza epidemic

Puerto Rican Health Department Secretary Ana Ríus declared a influenza epidemic on the island last week due to the island experiencing a rapid increase in cases nearing 10,000, according to a Yahoo Noticias report. To date, 9,591 cases have been reported this season.

Florida declares end to Zika outbreak

Florida declared its crisis with local transmission of Zika over for the season Friday in a welcome announcement ahead of peak tourism months, but health authorities warned that travellers would continue bringing the disease into the state.

Starting in late July, state health officials had identified four zones in the Miami area where the virus was spreading through local mosquitoes — the first such transmissions in the continental U.S. — and launched aggressive efforts to control the insects. One by one, the zones were deemed clear of continuing infections, and Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that the last one — a 1.5-square-mile area in touristy South Beach — also was cleared.