In August 2016, there were more than 1,950 cases of Zika virus in the continental U.S. from travel abroad, and more than 20 cases in Florida likely to have come from infected mosquitoes there. Though most people know Zika is spread by a mosquito and can be sexually transmitted, the Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) survey found a lot of misinformation and a lack of urgency. This report demonstrates how how to employ three principles of effective science communication to better inform the public about the risks of Zika virus:
- Communicate Consequential Information
- Link to CDC, WHO, or other credible sources of information about transmission and prevention
- Visualize Prevention
