Puerto Ricans leave as nation defaults and Zika spreads

Puerto Rico lost nearly 2% of its population to the mainland US in 2014, with a net migration of 1.8%, the highest level in the past decade, according to new analysis conducted by the Commonwealth's Institute of Statistics. The major factors behind the migratory trend are reported to be unemployment, lack of opportunities and quality of life on the island, whose economy is mired in debt following a ten-year long recession. Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, declared a government bank debt moratorium, defaulting on a $422m payment, its largest default to date, with only interest payments to be made, to prioritise "the needs of our people" over meeting the "demands of our creditors." He called on the US Congress for a resolution to restructuring the country's debt. Meanwhile, the island's financial crisis could also impact the fight against the spreading Zika virus, with an increasing number of hospitals in danger of closing.

The island has defaulted on its largest debt payment yet, and with a total debt of more than $70 billion, many of Puerto Rico’s hospitals are in danger of closing.May 2, 2016