The Zika Virus in Brazil

The Zika virus outbreak of 2015 disproportionately affected Brazil, a South American country with a history of fractured health systems and infrastructure. Factors that have contributed to Brazil’s higher burden of Zika virus include physical environmental factors, a previously struggling economy, social and health inequalities, and political and financial constraints. With Brazil’s unequal distribution of wealth, individuals living in low-resource areas had fewer protective factors against the virus. The case study presentation focuses on describing these factors, including how the Zika virus affected the population’s health in Brazil and why the country’s previous historical events led to poorer regions disproportionate burden of the Zika virus. This case study identifies key lessons learned from the Zika virus outbreak that may help mitigate future infectious disease events of concern in public health, especially among marginalized communities and those living in poverty