FYI: I have a confession to make: the Zika virus scares me.
I don’t feel like it’s under control or that we’ve seen the worst of it. This week, the Florida situation became a national story and a baby in Texas just died of a Zika-related birth defect. Next week, as a half million people return to every corner of the globe from the Rio games, we would hear even worse things. I’m not comfortable about any of it, frankly. Spend a few moments watching Florida Governor Rick Scott in front of a TV camera and you won’t be either.
But are there investment related implications?
Regards,
Ted
http://thereformedbroker.com/2016/08/09/should-you-hedge-your-portfolio-against-zika/
Comments
That said, mosquitoborne illnesses -- which I agree can be frightening -- are nothing new to much of the world....but Zika's impact on births, mothers, and pregnancies indeed is scary.
I remember stepping off the plane in Brasilia on a State Dept junket 12+ years ago and before I got out of the jetway the embassy staffer was spraying me down with DEET because of a Dengue outbreak in the country. That kind of scared me ... as did the mosquito I killed 3 days later in my hotel room, which thankfully didn't bite me. I played tourist anyway, albeit dying while wearing DEET-soaked long sleeves and jeans as i climbed Corcovado in 95F and uber-high humidity. ;/ (For years later, every time I got an ache or pain I couldn't account for I thought it might be delayed-action dengue. ;/)