Abstract
The United States experienced local transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) for the first time in 1999, and Zika Virus (ZIKV) in 2016. These introductions captured the public’s attention in varying degrees. The research presented here analyzes the disproportional perception of ZIKV risk compared to WNV transmission risk, by the public and vector control personnel. The risk perception of vector control was measured through purposive sampled interviews (24 interviews in 13 states; May 2020–June 2021), while the public’s perception was estimated from news publications (January 2000–December 2020), and Google searches (January 2004–December 2020). Over time, we observed a decrease in the frequency of press reporting and Google searches of both viruses with decreasing annual peaks in the summer. The highest peak of ZIKV news, and searches, surpassed that of WNV. We observed clear differences in the contents of the headlines for both viruses. We propose that the main reason in risk perception differences between the viruses were psychological. Zika infections (mosquito-borne and sexually transmitted) can result in devastating symptoms in fetuses and newborns, observations that frequently appeared in ZIKV-related headlines. Our results highlight the likely influence the news media has on risk perception and the need for public health agencies to play active roles in the conversation, helping disseminate timely and accurate information. Understanding the factors that shape risk perceptions of vector-borne diseases will hopefully lead to better use of resources by providing better guidance.
Highlights
More than five-hundred years ago yellow fever and dengue arboviruses reached the Americas from Africa
Using only the most severe cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) by county, we observed that neuro-invasive cases were recorded for the first time in a large number of counties and states in CONUS between 1999–2004 (Table 1, gray column)
Our analysis is a first approach to the complex issue of risk perception
Summary
More than five-hundred years ago yellow fever and dengue arboviruses reached the Americas from Africa. It was not until the 20th and 21st centuries that the United. States experienced the introduction of several more arboviruses. Was first detected in New York City in 1999. An average of 28 cases of travel-related. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) per year were detected in the United States between 2006 and 2016. Twelve locally transmitted cases of CHIKV were reported in Florida during [1]. Local transmission of Zika Virus (ZIKV) in the USA was first detected in 2016 in
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