Zika: From the Northeastern Backlands to the Global Threat

A gripping account of the Zika virus outbreak and its devastating impact on Brazil and the world.

In 2015, the Zika virus emerged in Brazil, causing a public health crisis that would spread to over 80 countries and infect millions of people. In this book, Debora Diniz, a leading Brazilian anthropologist and public health expert, tells the story of the Zika outbreak, from its origins in the impoverished northeastern backlands of Brazil to its spread across the globe.

Diniz draws on her extensive research and interviews with key players in the outbreak to provide a comprehensive and nuanced account of the Zika crisis. She examines the social, political, and economic factors that contributed to the outbreak, including Brazil's lack of preparedness for public health emergencies, the country's deep-seated social inequalities, and the global interconnectedness of the modern world.

A powerful indictment of the failures of public health systems and a call to action for global health equity.

Diniz's book is a powerful indictment of the failures of public health systems in Brazil and around the world. She argues that the Zika outbreak was a wake-up call that exposed the urgent need for investment in public health infrastructure, improved surveillance and response systems, and greater global cooperation.

Diniz also calls for a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, both within Brazil and between countries, as a way to prevent future pandemics. She argues that the Zika outbreak was a symptom of a deeper global inequality, and that only by addressing this inequality can we hope to build a healthier and more just world.

A must-read for anyone interested in public health, global health equity, or the history of the Zika outbreak.

Diniz's book is a must-read for anyone interested in public health, global health equity, or the history of the Zika outbreak. It is a powerful and important book that will change the way you think about pandemics and the global health system.

Praise for Zika: From the Northeastern Backlands to the Global Threat

"A powerful and important book that tells the story of the Zika outbreak with clarity, compassion, and urgency. Diniz's work is a must-read for anyone who cares about public health and global health equity." —Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, Kolokotrones University Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard University

"A devastating indictment of the failures of public health systems and a call to action for global health equity. Diniz's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the Zika outbreak and its implications for the future of public health." —Nancy Scheper-Hughes, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley

"A brilliant and deeply moving account of the Zika outbreak and its impact on Brazil and the world. Diniz's book is a must-read for anyone interested in public health, global health equity, or the history of the Zika outbreak." —Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH, Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard University