Advanced search

The impact of Zika on local businesses

Timothy F. Page (Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)
Mark L. Williams (Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)
Graziana Cassella (Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)
Jessica L. Adler (Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)
Benjamin C. Amick, III (Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA)

Disaster Prevention and Management

ISSN: 0965-3562

Publication date: 7 August 2017

Abstract

Purpose

In June 2016, the first cases of Zika were reported in the USA in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey of Wynwood businesses about their perceptions of their financial well-being and the government and media’s responses to the Zika outbreak.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was developed, and 44 owners/managers of Wynwood businesses were interviewed by telephone or in-person during the period when the outbreak was being managed.

Findings

Businesses reported downturns in revenues, profits, and customer traffic following the Zika outbreak. Believing that the downturn would be temporary, few businesses laid off workers or reduced prices. All businesses reported dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the outbreak.

Originality/value

This is the first study to document the impact of Zika on businesses located in outbreak areas. The findings highlight the business impact of Zika outbreaks and suggest a need for improved communication and response from state and local governments to business concerns when future outbreaks occur.

Keywords

Citation

Page, T., Williams, M., Cassella, G., Adler, J. and Amick, III, B. (2017), "The impact of Zika on local businesses", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 452-457. https://doi.org/10.1108/DPM-04-2017-0090

Download as .RIS

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Please note you might not have access to this content

You may be able to access this content by login via Shibboleth, Open Athens or with your Emerald account.
To rent this content from Deepdyve, please click the button.
Rent from Deepdyve
If you would like to contact us about accessing this content, click the button and fill out the form.
Contact us

We’re listening — tell us what you think

Join us on our journey