Zika Virus Spreading: Here's How To Play It Again

Reports continue to surface of confirmed Zika virus cases outside of the primary infection regions. China has now confirmed the first case of Zika in the world’s most populated country. The 34-year-old infected male had recently returned from a trip to Venezuela, a nation which may now have as many as 400,000 cases of Zika infection.

There is currently no vaccine for Zika, which is primarily spread via mosquitos and has infected hundreds of thousands of Central and South Americans.

For now, China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) is reporting that the possibility that the infected Chinese man has spread the virus to others in China is “extremely low due to low temperature.”

Related Link: Zika-Related Social Media Chatter Is Picking Up

The CDC is reportedly working with mosquito-rich Florida to stop any possible outbreak of Zika early. There have already been 16 confirmed Zika cases in the state in residents who had recently traveled to affected countries. Governor Rick Scott released a statement on Tuesday assuring residents that none of the 16 cases were contracted in the state. The CDC recently sent the state an additional 950 Zika testing kits.

Traders who want to play stocks that are well-positioned for a Zika pandemic might consider Chimerix Inc CMRX, Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD, Intrexon Corp XON and Cerus Corporation CERS.

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.