Who says Zika is "mosquito-borne"? - Health Literacy Lab

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Who says Zika is “mosquito-borne”?

Who says Zika is “mosquito-borne”?

Who says Zika is “mosquito-borne”?

Unfortunately just about every scientist, public health expert and media source.

Problem with referring to Zika as “mosquito-borne” is:

1. linguistically complex – a highly deleted, passive form-one of the hardest grammar constructions for people to make sense of, especially if less educated.

A mosquito bears the zika virus.

The zika virus is borne by a mosquito.(passive verb)
The zika virus is mosquito-borne.(passive and deleted)

2. Once experts use “mosquito-borne” the media picks it up and that’s what the public hears (see lesson on Communicating about Ebola and one on Bandwagon Terms at the Health Literacy Lab ).

Here’s what I mean.

Examples of experts’ language

NYC DOH Poster

“We can prevent the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses”

Florida DOH

Zika fever is a mild febrile illness caused by a mosquito-borne virus similar tothose that cause dengue and West Nile virus infection.

Then the Media Picks up the Language

Channel 1

“TheZika threat hits home. The mosquito-borne virus is blamed for an alarmingnumber of birth defects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Federal officialsare increasingly concerned about a potential surge in cases here in the UnitedStates”.

—–NBC NY

“Amosquito-borne virus that’s been linked to birth defects is raising fears amongsome travelers to South America. Michael George has more.”

—-CBS NY

“Concernsare growing over the mosquito-borne illness known as Zika virus, which has beenspreading through Central and South America and is believed to be linked to asurge in serious birth defects inBrazil. “Whatyou need to know about Zika”

The Better, Easier to Read Language about Zika

“Zika virusdisease (Zika) is a disease caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to peopleprimarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.” CDC

“Zika virus is primarily spread to people through mosquitobites.”

Texas DOH

BTW – Wikipedia doesn’t score so high in readability either.

“Mosquito-borne diseases or mosquito-borne illnesses are diseasescaused by bacteria,viruses or parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. They cantransmit disease without being affected themselves.”

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