Asked by Linzy Castillo on May 08, 2024
Verified
Researchers report that the Zika virus epidemic of 2015-2016, which spread rapidly from South America to Mexico, Florida, and Puerto Rico, was aided by ______ and by______.
A) El Niño; higher temperatures
B) El Niño; shifts in ocean currents
C) El Niño; La Niña
D) ozone depletion; global climate change
E) global climate change; El Niño
Zika Virus
A virus spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, known to cause Zika fever and linked to birth defects in the children of infected pregnant women.
El Niño
A climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.
Global Climate Change
The long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, largely attributed to human activity.
- Understand the cumulative impact of global warming on ecosystems and various species.
Verified Answer
DF
Derek FowlerMay 10, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
El Niño and higher temperatures both contributed to the rapid spread of the Zika virus epidemic of 2015-2016. El Niño can lead to increased rainfall and warmer temperatures, which are favorable conditions for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes are the primary vectors for the Zika virus, thus these conditions can facilitate the spread of the virus.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the cumulative impact of global warming on ecosystems and various species.