Is there a Relationship between Income and Infectious Disease: Evidence from Cameron County

Abstract

The environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Research on poverty indicates that lower income is linked to poorer health. The lower an individual’s income, the higher is his or her likelihood of disease and premature death. Furthermore, some research indicates that a higher risk of contracting an infectious disease may exist for those living in poverty. This study explored the potential existence of a relationship between income and Zika virus. Through analysis using 3.4.0 Version of the R Statistical Package, the median disposable income of the household was found to be significant in predicting the Zika virus counts. Specifically, the study looked at the relationship between household income and the risk of contagion in Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas, which has been named as “Zika cautionary” by the Centers for Disease Control. Our analysis shows the existence of such a relationship, specifically that an increase in median disposable annual income per household in Cameron County of $100 per month was associated with a 15.6% decrease in the expected rate of occurrence of Zika Virus.