Peter Hotez has fought hookworm in Africa, demystified Ebola fears in America, and worked to eradicate many other infectious diseases over his storied thirty-year career. Now the Houston-based public health leader is confronting Zika — and he's worried that the Gulf Coast is in line for a financial and human disaster on the scale of Hurricane Katrina. Dr. Hotez joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how poverty is making the world sick (starts at the 1:45 mark), how the United States is partially to blame for creating the West's mosquito problem (6:15), why he's concerned about Zika and partisan politics hurting public health (10:20), how the cost of Zika will rival a natural disaster (16:10), and why he's getting worried about an explosion of disease in Europe. (26:45) In a bonus, POLITICO's Paul Demko — who covers the health insurance beat — explains the latest news about Obamacare rate hikes and how it's playing on the campaign trail (31:30). We’d appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email [email protected].

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