Peter Hotez on how Zika is America's next disaster

Peter Hotez has fought hookworm in Africa, demystified Ebola fears in America, and worked to eradicate many other infectious diseases over his storied thirty-year career. Now the Houston-based public health leader is confronting Zika — and he's worried that the Gulf Coast is in line for a financial and human disaster on the scale of Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Hotez joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how poverty is making the world sick (starts at the 1:45 mark), how the United States is partially to blame for creating the West's mosquito problem (6:15), why he's concerned about Zika and partisan politics hurting public health (10:20), how the cost of Zika will rival a natural disaster (16:10), and why he's getting worried about an explosion of disease in Europe. (26:45) In a bonus, POLITICO's Paul Demko — who covers the health insurance beat — explains the latest news about Obamacare rate hikes and how it's playing on the campaign trail (31:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices