Environmental and Social Change Drive the Explosive Emergence of Zika Virus in the Americas.
Since Zika virus (ZIKV) was detected in Brazil in 2015, it has spread explosively across the Americas and has been linked to increased incidence of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). In one year, it has infected over 500,000 people (suspected and confirmed cases) in 40 countries and territories in the Americas. Along with recent epidemics of dengue (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which are also transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, the emergence of ZIKV suggests an ongoing intensification of environmental and social factors that have given rise to a new regime of arbovirus transmission. Here, we review hypotheses and preliminary evidence for the environmental and social changes that have fueled the ZIKV epidemic. Potential drivers include climate variation, land use change, poverty, and human movement. Beyond the direct impact of microcephaly and GBS, the ZIKV epidemic will likely have social ramifications for women's health and economic consequences for tourism and beyond.
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Sofia
S
Ali
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Olivia
O
Gugliemini
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Serena
S
Harber
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Alexandra
A
Harrison
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Lauren
L
Houle
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Javarcia
J
Ivory
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Sierra
S
Kersten
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Rebia
R
Khan
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Jenny
J
Kim
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Chris
C
LeBoa
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Emery
E
Nez-Whitfield
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Jamieson
J
O'Marr
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Emma
E
Rothenberg
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
R Max
RM
Segnitz
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Stephanie
S
Sila
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Anna
A
Verwillow
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Miranda
M
Vogt
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Adrienne
A
Yang
Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Erin A
0000-0002-4402-5547
EA
Mordecai
D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D058872:Epidemics; D006801:Humans; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000254:growth & development; D012922:Social Change; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*