Florida Department of Health

The 80-year-old was apparently the first person in the region killed by the mosquito-spread virus in nearly a century. At the same time, there are signs the Hillsborough County outbreak could be waning.

University of Florida students are working with the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County to provide free flu vaccinations at 37 Alachua County schools through UF's Control Flu program.

There were 39 additional cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the county in the health department's latest update covering Sept. 6-12. Hillsborough's 134 cases reported since July account for nearly 90% of the 152 statewide.

Monday is the deadline to comment on the health department's plan to strike four longstanding immunization requirements that the advocates say are safe and lifesaving.

Citing privacy issues, an official said the health department "is unable to provide additional details." However, the investigation occurs after Hillsborough was described as an "epicenter" of an outbreak.

The Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians sent notice to the Department of Health requesting a rule hearing on a proposal to make it easier for parents to opt out of vaccinating their school-aged children.

The county reported 59 of the state's 73 cases this year as of the latest weekly update from Aug. 23-29. That 29 more than the previous update. There are three important steps for prevention.

More new cases of measles have been recorded in Collier County, the Florida Department of Health data recording site says.

Miami-Dade had the most cases at 61 and also reported just one new case. Lee County had the second highest number of cases at 42 and reported just one new case from the previous week.

A state plan would remove mandates on schoolchildren receiving shots for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib and pneumococcal disease. Comments can be made through Sept. 14.

Noting that "dengue does not stop at county lines," Pinellas' mosquito control said it was expanding its response by focusing ground inspections and dawn fogging in the Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg areas.

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Byron Donalds says he'd like to "study and really engage it" before making a decision about whether to repeal statutory vaccine requirements for schools.