MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County commissioners met Tuesday to discuss a resolution to ask the state for additional money to combat the Zika virus.
Gov. Rick Scott has so far authorized more than $36 million to be spent on fighting Zika, a hefty portion of which has already been spent in Miami-Dade County.
The governor directed state health officials last month to provide Miami-Dade County with an additional $5 million for mosquito-control efforts.
He authorized another $10 million last week to be spent across the state.
"It's going to take more than $5 million to fight or combat the Zika virus," Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said.
Edmonson was one of the primary sponsors of a resolution asking the governor to allocate a "significant portion" of the extra $10 million to Miami-Dade County.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said between $8 million and $10 million will have been spent in the county by the end of the month to combat the virus.
"We will do and spend whatever we need to do and spend in order to combat and defeat Zika here in Miami-Dade County," he said.
Scott announced Monday morning the lifting of the Wynwood Zika zone, but the Miami Beach Zika zone has nearly tripled in size.
Concern is also growing about the chemical naled, which is being used in the aerial spraying.
"We're not married to one thing or the other," Gimenez said about the use of the controversial chemical. "We simply follow the CDC recommendations. We also follow the state of Florida Department of Health recommendations."
Despite the threat, some tourists said they are not scared of contracting the virus.
"My doctor gave me two sprays to protect me from the Zika," Yamilla Deluch, who is 5 1/2 months pregnant and visiting from Argentina, said.
Jerry Libbin with the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce said while occupancy hasn't been incredibly low, hotels across the beach have seen large groups canceling their reservations.
"Where there has been some impact is for meeting planners who are planning farther out, perhaps even February or March or well into 2017, where there's a concern about what will or won't happen," Libbin said.
The mayor said the next aerial mission over the Miami Beach Zika zone is scheduled this weekend.