The Emerging Zika Pandemic: Enhancing Preparedness

JAMA (Online), Jan. 27, 2016, at E1-E2

3 Pages Posted: 20 Feb 2016 Last revised: 7 Nov 2023

See all articles by Daniel Lucey

Daniel Lucey

Georgetown University

Lawrence O. Gostin

Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law

Date Written: January 27, 2016

Abstract

The Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus related to yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis, originated in the Zika forest in Uganda and was discovered in a rhesus monkey in 1947. The disease now has “explosive” pandemic potential, with outbreaks in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Since Brazil reported Zika virus in May 2015, infections have occurred in at least 20 countries in the Americas. Puerto Rico reported the first locally transmitted infection in December 2015, but Zika is likely to spread to the United States. The Aedes species mosquito (an aggressive daytime biter) that transmits Zika virus (as well as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever) occurs worldwide, posing a high risk for global transmission. Modeling anticipates significant international spread by travelers from Brazil to the rest of the Americas, Europe, and Asia. What steps are required now to shore up preparedness in the Americas and worldwide?

Keywords: Zika, pandemic, public health, preparedness, health system capacities

Suggested Citation

Lucey, Daniel and Gostin, Lawrence O., The Emerging Zika Pandemic: Enhancing Preparedness (January 27, 2016). JAMA (Online), Jan. 27, 2016, at E1-E2, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2734133

Daniel Lucey

Georgetown University ( email )

Washington, DC 20057
United States

Lawrence O. Gostin (Contact Author)

Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law ( email )

600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
United States
202-662-9038 (Phone)
202-662-9055 (Fax)

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