Although Lyme disease and the Zika virus are transmitted by different types of vectors, both illnesses can cause severe, long-term health damage and are of enormous concern to the general public. The response by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to each threat, however, has been decidedly different.
The CDC has responded to the Zika outbreak with swift and aggressive actions. “On January 22, 2016, the CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to respond to outbreaks of Zika occurring in the Americas and increased reports of birth defects and Guillain-Barre syndrome in areas affected by Zika.” On February 8, 2016, the CDC elevated its EOC activation to a Level 1, the highest level. [1]
