Brazil's Zika fight will focus on mosquito eradication

Significance

Health Minister Marcelo Castro's recent statement that Brazil is "badly losing the battle against the mosquito", though widely criticised, has proved to be politically significant. Questions have been raised as to how Brazil is currently combating the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the spread of the Zika virus.

Impacts

• Shortcomings in health and sanitation infrastructure in poor regions may mar anti-Zika efforts.
• The outbreak will renew debate in other areas, such as legalisation of abortion.
• The declaration of Zika as an international public health emergency may boost global research cooperation.