The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $700,000 to aid Florida counties with the fight against Zika, but the funds won't include Southwest Florida counties.
$500,000 of the emergency aid is going to seven counties across the state: Broward, Palm Beach, Osceola, Hillsborough, Orange, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
It leaves, 60 counties including Lee County without the extra help.
A new map released by authorities working to assess the
public health risk of zika found that mosquitoes that can carry the zika virus have been found in 40 states in the U.S.
"We have the risk of Zika right now, so we have to get rid of all the standing water around the state," said Florida Governor Rick Scott.
The mosquitoes, whose scientific names are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, were heavily concentrated in the Southeast and Southwest with Florida appearing to be a hot zone.
The maps used data back to 1995, including information from the CDC, university researchers and local health departments.
"You can flap your hands like this and literally it's like the rain coming down." Ruth Banks, a resident of South Naples in Collier County. One of the 60 counties not receiving the emergency funding.
Collier County Mosquito Control Director Patrick Linn says his department is ready to do all they can to protect residents.
"We know that they're bad almost everywhere right now, and weather permitting we'll be back out there to get the numbers down again," said Linn.
A week of wet weather has left standing water throughout Southwest Florida. Mosquito experts are urging residents in counties that aren't receiving the extra help to do their part.
"The thing to remember is drain and cover," said Linn.
