Second Zika carrier may increase insurance premiums
Insurance Business Canada is warning of a possible increase in insurance premiums due to the discovery of a second Zika-carrying mosquito species in Brazil.
The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a Brazilian health institute, conducted new research which found that another mosquito species, culex quinquefasciatus, is able to carry the disease. Troublingly, this species is far more common than the other carrier of Zika, aedes aegypti.
The findings are currently unpublished, but suggest that Brazil will have to alter its response strategy to the virus now that it is more contagious. Constancia Ayres, who helped conduct the research, says the discovery is ‘very bad news’ for Brazil and all those travelling to the Rio Olympics. She added: “We have a national programme for controlling aedes, but we have nothing for culex, so if culex is an important vector then we have to start from zero.”
A spokesman for the Brazilian Ministry of Health told Canada’s Globe and Mail that the findings do not change the response to fighting the disease, but many scientists disagree with the stance, saying that the culex quinquefasciatus has different behaviours to aedes aegypti and, as a result, must be tackled in a different way. The culex quinquefasciatus can also survive in more varied environments, meaning possible repercussions outside of Brazil.
Until the Brazilian government verifies and officially recognises the research, the Insurance Business Canada reports that it is unknown how it would affect travel insurance premiums, but it would be ‘prudent’ to expect ‘significant increases’.