Final answer:
The link between Zika virus and climate change includes the expansion of mosquito habitats, accelerated mosquito lifecycles, and faster development of pesticide resistance, which together facilitate the spread and impact of the virus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Zika virus is an arboviral disease that has been increasingly associated with climate change due to several factors tied to environmental shifts. Climate change can affect the distribution of vector-borne diseases like Zika in several ways:
- Expansion of Mosquito Range: As global temperatures rise, the habitats suitable for Zika virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes expand, leading to an increased potential for virus transmission in areas that were previously unaffected.
- Accelerated Lifecycle: Higher temperatures can lead to mosquitoes breeding and maturing faster, which increases the number of mosquitoes that can transmit the virus within a given time period.
- Pesticide Resistance: The accelerated lifecycle may also lead to a faster evolution of pesticide resistance, making it harder to control mosquito populations and thus increasing the risk of Zika virus spread.
Zika virus itself is a serious health concern, especially for pregnant women, as it can cause microcephaly and other brain defects in developing fetuses.