Similarly, Zika is a vector-borne disease that is predicted to spread as a result of climate change. More than 1.3 billion new people could be exposed to Zika by 2050 as warmer temperatures make more environments suitable for disease transmission.

In 2024, over 1,100 Zika cases have been confirmed in the Americas. Moreover, Zika reinfections have been confirmed. The U.S. CDC recently published 'Evidence of Zika Virus Reinfection by Genome Diversity and Antibody Response Analysis. '

Temperature-dependent R 0 ( T ) curves, used here and in other studies, indicate that there is a potential for increasing temperatures to have a protective effect. The curves for dengue and Zika begin to decrease sharply after they peak at around 30°C, both decreasing to 1 by around 35°C (95°F).

Your decision to travel or live abroad is personal and complex. The large Zika virus outbreaks that occurred during 2015 and 2016 in the Americas are over, but Zika virus continues to be a risk in many countries around the world. Review CDC's latest Zika recommendations for travelers and people living abroad.