Part 2: Public Health Professional Perspectives on Justice and Zika Virus Preparedness: The Human Right to Health
Abstract
Expanding our all-hazards analysis of the Zika virus (ZIKV) by utilizing the human right to health as an experimental survey target, 88% of the environmental health professionals we surveyed (N = 24) expect government to fulfill that objective. Inconsistency in disease outbreak terminology and transmission, however, was also observed among those surveyed. Of the respondents, 79% perceived that Executive Order 12,898 (1994) applies to all people and 71% agreed that at-risk populations include environmental justice populations. To target at-risk populations most in need of intervention, we developed our All-Hazards and One Health Vulnerability and Consequence Analysis by integrating all-hazards theory and law, Executive Order 12,898, our survey findings, and the human right to health.
Public health messaging should contain plain language guidance that keys in on human sexual transmission, contaminated environmental surfaces, and fomite pathways. We advocate for a One Health education approach for public health experts in infectious disease transmission science, especially in the absence of availability and accessibility to ZIKV preventive medicine.
Authors
- Christopher Eddy, MPH, REHS, CP-FS, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, Grand Canyon University
- Eriko Sase, PhD, Georgetown University, University of Tokyo, Saitama Prefectural University
Page #: 20-24
Publication Month: September 2021
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