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AP Photo/David Goldman

A recent poll revealed that Americans don’t know much about the Zika virus — a disease that many South American countries believe is a serious threat. Of the few who have some knowledge of Zika, many don’t know if the mosquito-borne illness can be passed on or if it’s treatable, according to a survey done by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

This lack of awareness and understanding could potentially pose a problem, as Zika is slowly-but-surely prowling towards the United States. If the virus does penetrate more of the country (346 U.S. cases have already been reported to be brought in from abroad) HeathGrove found the 50 cities that would likely be most afflicted with Zika.

Using data from a recent study in the Public Library of Science (PLOS) HeathGrove considered five factors that would warrant a high risk for a Zika epidemic:

– Counties with recent local Dengue and/or Chikungunya transmission
– Potential abundance of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (known to carry the virus) in January and July, classified as None, Low, Moderate, or High
– Estimated monthly average arrivals to the U.S. from countries on the CDC Zika travel advisory
– Population

HealthGrove then weighted all of these factors (in the order listed above) to calculate an overall “risk level” of a Zika epidemic in each city, scored out of 10. The city with the highest risk level had the score closest to 10.

When studying the results, the health site found that the biggest risk areas in the United States are in the South and Southeast—particularly Florida and its surrounding states. These warm, humid climates are ideal for mosquitoes to thrive. They also receive many visitors from South and Central America (where many countries plagued with Zika are found) due to their relative proximity.

The risk levels were rounded to the nearest hundredth place, though their ranking reflects each city’s unrounded score. In the case of a true tie, the tie goes to the city with a higher population.

#30. Augusta, GA

 

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Risk level: 4

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 583,632

#29. Little Rock, AR

 

[findthebest id=”aSxu8jRdeqp” title=”Little Rock Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/aSxu8jRdeqp” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Little Rock Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 4.24

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 729,135

#28. Columbia, SC

 

[findthebest id=”lRSCVkpincx” title=”Columbia Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/lRSCVkpincx” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Columbia Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 4.36

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 800,495

#27. Birmingham, AL

 

[findthebest id=”5nRUJOAaF2l” title=”Birmingham Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/5nRUJOAaF2l” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Birmingham Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 4.93

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,143,772

#26. Raleigh, NC

 

[findthebest id=”gnd3wP8fNOt” title=”Raleigh Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/gnd3wP8fNOt” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Raleigh Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 5.09

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,242,974

#25. Richmond, VA

 

[findthebest id=”6L2j5roVNSR” title=”Richmond Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/6L2j5roVNSR” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Richmond Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 5.12

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,260,029

#24. Louisville, KY

 

[findthebest id=”hKnrSrX0WEZ” title=”Louisville Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/hKnrSrX0WEZ” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Louisville Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 5.13

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,269,702

#23. Oklahoma City, OK

 

[findthebest id=”1gmJGW7TeuN” title=”Oklahoma City Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/1gmJGW7TeuN” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Oklahoma City Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 5.25

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,336,767

#22. Memphis, TN

 

[findthebest id=”cfHStWFYngV” title=”Memphis Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/cfHStWFYngV” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Memphis Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 5.26

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,343,230

#21. Nashville, TN

 

[findthebest id=”9vn5MH2s5zT” title=”Nashville Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/9vn5MH2s5zT” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Nashville Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 6

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,792,649

#20. Kansas City, MO

 

[findthebest id=”kuIezHAxem1″ title=”Kansas City Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/kuIezHAxem1″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Kansas City Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 6.04

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 2,071,133

#19. St. Louis, MO

 

[findthebest id=”40HwobLpwbP” title=”St. Louis Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/40HwobLpwbP” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”St. Louis Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 6.13

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 2,806,207

#18. Dallas, TX

 

[findthebest id=”f02FbcjuEXX” title=”Dallas Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/f02FbcjuEXX” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Dallas Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.11

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Low
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000
Population: 6,954,330

#17. Charlotte, NC

 

[findthebest id=”76kpaQBCAAZ” title=”Charlotte Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/76kpaQBCAAZ” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Charlotte Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.38

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000
Population: 2,380,314

#16. Washington, D.C.

 

[findthebest id=”i5FxXR9HJn7″ title=”Washington Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/i5FxXR9HJn7″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Washington Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.86

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000
Population: 6,033,737

#15. Philadelphia, PA

 

[findthebest id=”1BEPMlkA1cV” title=”Philadelphia Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/1BEPMlkA1cV” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Philadelphia Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.86

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 10,000-500,000
Population: 6,052,170

#14. Los Angeles, CA

 

[findthebest id=”cAZYzlSF9Z3″ title=”Los Angeles Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/cAZYzlSF9Z3″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Los Angeles Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.93

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Low
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000
Population: 13,262,220

#13. Savannah, GA

 

[findthebest id=”9QFbS6f8Si1″ title=”Savannah Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/9QFbS6f8Si1″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Savannah Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.99

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 372,708

#12. Tallahassee, FL

 

[findthebest id=”kQ0kF6Ne149″ title=”Tallahassee Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/kQ0kF6Ne149″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Tallahassee Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 7.99

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 375,751

#11. Mobile, AL

 

[findthebest id=”4lZCtAY6iTX” title=”Mobile Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/4lZCtAY6iTX” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Mobile Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 415,123

#10. Charleston, SC

 

[findthebest id=”flkLgBwbrG5″ title=”Charleston Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/flkLgBwbrG5″ link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Charleston Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 727,689

#9. New Orleans, LA

 

[findthebest id=”5Ja0PdMRrKt” title=”New Orleans Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/5Ja0PdMRrKt” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”New Orleans Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.01

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,251,849

#8. Atlanta, GA

 

[findthebest id=”gIv9CekWAwB” title=”Atlanta Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/gIv9CekWAwB” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Atlanta Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.13

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000
Population: 5,614,323

#7. Houston, TX

 

[findthebest id=”eurqIvOSmp” title=”Houston Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/eurqIvOSmp” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Houston Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.14

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000
Population: 6,490,180

#6. Jacksonville, FL

 

[findthebest id=”bdPAdJ3U18x” title=”Jacksonville Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/bdPAdJ3U18x” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Jacksonville Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.38

Mosquito level in January: Low
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 1,419,127

#5. New York, NY

 

[findthebest id=”8tuNwtqnJrv” title=”New York Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/8tuNwtqnJrv” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”New York Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.49

Mosquito level in January: None
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 1,000,000-2,000,000
Population: 20,092,883

#4. Brownsville, TX

 

[findthebest id=”jsPWjtYsSdD” title=”Brownsville Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/jsPWjtYsSdD” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Brownsville Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 8.86

Mosquito level in January: Low
Mosquito level in July: Moderate
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 420,392

#3. Tampa, FL

 

[findthebest id=”2YPe7Y9la3r” title=”Tampa Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/2YPe7Y9la3r” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Tampa Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 9.14

Mosquito level in January: Low
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: <10,000
Population: 2,915,582

#2. Orlando, FL

 

[findthebest id=”dYamUYHqiPz” title=”Orlando Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/dYamUYHqiPz” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Orlando Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 9.43

Mosquito level in January: Low
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 500,000-1,000,000
Population: 2,321,418

#1. Miami, FL

 

[findthebest id=”7MUBlF10a1f” title=”Miami Risk Profile” width=”600″ height=”600″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/7MUBlF10a1f” link=”http://conditions.healthgrove.com/l/1368/Zika-Virus-Disease” link_text=”Miami Risk Profile | HealthGrove”]

Risk level: 10

Mosquito level in January: Moderate
Mosquito level in July: High
Number of people traveling to the U.S. from Zika countries: 1,000,000-2,000,000
Population: 5,929,819

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