Share of Cost, Why a new “App” would be essential to public education in the fight against Zika
Time is running out for thousands of pregnant women who live along the Gulf Coast. Over 2,260 cases of the Zika virus have been reported within the United States, but this number will continue to increase as the virus spreads across the country. The threat from the Zika virus may become endemic because the states along the Gulf Coast offer a welcoming climate for the disease spreading Aedes mosquitoes, while the rest of the nation remains less threatened. Having some states where the virus is present for even a few months in the year means that travelers from states where the virus is absent could be exposed and may take the virus back to their home states. This makes the need for mass education about the Zika Virus imperative to effectively address this public health crisis. One of the most likely and cost effective tools for public education regarding the Zika virus would be an application (app) designed to provide basic information to users. Apps or “applications” are software programs designed to create access to specific types of information or services that benefit users of smartphones or electronic books. Smartphone and electronic notebook users use apps to get driving directions, play games, music, participate in online instruction courses, connect with people or share information with others.