Avoiding The Insurer Bite: Insurance Coverage For Zika Virus Losses

Named after the Ugandan forest in which it was first discovered, outbreaks of Zika virus have until recently been limited to tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The past year, however, has witnessed the rapid spread of Zika virus throughout the Western Hemisphere, including most recently to the continental United States where active local transmission has been confirmed in parts of Miami-Dade County.

Zika virus is transmitted primarily through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. While Zika virus is not communicated through casual contact, transmission can occur through sexual contact and from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Although those who experience illness from Zika virus usually have only mild and short-lived symptoms, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly, and has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that can result in paralysis.