Perceived Risk of Mosquito-Borne Arboviruses in the Continental United States.

ABSTRACT: The United States experienced local transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) for the first time in 1999, and Zika Virus (ZIKV) in 2016. These introductions captured the public's attention in varying degrees. The research presented here analyzes the disproportional perception of ZIKV risk compared to WNV transmission risk, by the public and vector control personnel. The risk perception of vector control was measured through purposive sampled interviews (24 interviews in 13 states; May 2020-June 2021), while the public's perception was estimated from news publications (January 2000-December 2020), and Google searches (January 2004-December 2020). Over time, we observed a decrease in the frequency of press reporting and Google searches of both viruses with decreasing annual peaks in the summer.

SUBMITTER: Lozano S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8706029 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature