Some researchers now say the Zika virus may become even more widespread as the planet continues to warm.

CCTV America’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports from Denver.

Some researchers now think the Zika virus could become even more prevalent as the planet continues to warm over the next few decades. They say climate change could cause many more people to become exposed to the mosquito that carries Zika.

The mosquito that transmits the Zika virus, is sensitive to temperature. The warmer it is, the faster mosquitos develop from egg to adult. And the warmer it is, the less time it takes for a mosquito, having bitten an infected human, to transmit the virus to another human. Areas of the world that were once considered hostile to mosquitos could soon become friendlier environments.

But climate change is just one of many things to consider. Socioeconomic factors like population growth, the presence of water-filled containers, where mosquitos breed, and air conditioning, not available to many global residents, could affect the disease’s spread.

A lot remains unknown about how the Zika outbreak got out of control. Scientists warns Zika’s future spread will be unpredictable. Meaning billions more people could be exposed to the Zika-carrying mosquito in the years ahead.