Abstract
The 2015 outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil led to a significant increase of neonatal microcephaly. While Zika virus was identified in Africa in the 1940s and was noted to be present in Asia, it was not until 2007 that there was a significant shift in the behavior of the virus. Reasons for this change in Zika virus behavior and pathogenesis could be due to a change in the virulence of the virus, and a new ability to infect the human host. Additionally, the changing habitat of mosquitoes along with increasing urbanization and changes of human habitats has increased the risk of Zika virus exposure. This review summarizes the response to the Zika pandemic and recommendations for interventions through the lens of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction. Emergency preparedness focuses on lessening the likelihood and the impact of disasters. Preparedness encompasses the actions of mitigation, prevention, response, and recovery.
Highlights
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is closely related to the dengue and yellow fever viruses
While Zika virus was identified in Africa in the 1940s and was noted to be present in Asia, it was not until 2007 that there was a significant shift in the behavior of the virus
This review summarizes the response to the Zika pandemic and recommendations for interventions through the lens of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction
Summary
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is closely related to the dengue and yellow fever viruses. The Zika virus, unlike other flaviviruses, crosses the placental barrier and causes active infection in the fetal brains, which results in malformations of the brain or fetal demise [1]. In May of 2015, the Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert with recommendations to detect and manage Zika virus infections [2]. By February 2016 given the precipitous spread of the virus across the Americas, the World Health Or-
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