- A warning from the World Health Organization on the Zika virus spreading rapidly in the Americas is creating a stir.
- "The level of alarm is extremely high," said WHO director general Dr. Margarat Chan.
- The outbreak is of a particular concern in Brazil where the Summer Olympics are due to be held in August. Some airlines (LFL, GOL) could be impacted negatively.
- If Zika spreads closer to the U.S., sales of mosquito-related products could soar at companies such as Spectrum Brands (SPB +1.3%), Home Depot (HD +0.1%), Lowe's (LOW), and S.C. Johnson (similar to how cases of Ebola in the U.S. led to big sales gains at Clorox an Grainger on disinfectants).