Will the Zika Virus Affect the Brazilian Mining Industry?

For months, news of the Brazilian outbreak of the Zika Virus has dominated headlines. Declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organization, the Zika Virus carries almost no symptoms and leads to no real lasting harm. The problem is that the infection of pregnant women has been linked to a rise in birth defects, specifically congenital microcephaly.

Congenital microcephaly is often a sign of the brain not developing normally during pregnancy. Health authorities in Brazil, with assistance from the Pan American Health Organization, CDC, and other agencies, have been investigating the possible association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly (CDC).

The official position of the Centers for Disease Control is that while understanding of the disease and its links to birth defects in the children of infected women is evolving, pregnant women should be especially careful and exercise caution when considering a trip to South America, especially Brazil.

How all of this could affect the Brazilian mining industry remains to be seen. Obviously, a percentage of the mining population in Brazil is made up of women who could be directly affected as well as husbands and fathers whose families are at risk.

On a grand scale, ongoing concerns regarding Brazil's overall political, social, and economic stability are always a concern, and a major health crisis does nothing to allay the fears of international investors that the Brazilian mining industry has everything under control.

It's our hope, of course, that the Brazilian government's efforts to eradicate the spread of the Zika virus are successful--and we don't just hope that for the good of the Brazilian mining industry. We hope to hear news soon that the disease has been contained and that both Brazil and the world need no longer fear its dangers.

Remember that we carry a full supply of OTR tires for all of your mining needs. Feel free to contact us for the best deals.

Image credit: CDC

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