Author(s)

Annekathryn Goodman

Harvard Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH Global Disaster Response, Boston, MA, USA.

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.

Zika Virus, Pandemic, Emergency Preparedness, Sendai Framework, Microcephaly, Aedes Mosquito, Microcephaly

Goodman, A. (2020) The Global Impact of the Zika Virus Pandemic: The Importance of Emergency Preparedness. Health, 12, 132-140. doi: 10.4236/health.2020.122012.