El Niño fuelled Zika outbreak, new study suggests


Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that a change in weather patterns, brought on by the 'Godzilla' El Niño of 2015, fuelled the Zika outbreak in South America. The findings were revealed using a new epidemiological model that looked at how climate affects the spread of Zika virus by both of its major vectors, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).The model can also be used to predict the risk of future outbreaks, and help public health officials tailor mosquito control measures and travel advice.


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