Zika Virus: An Emerging Infectious Disease with Serious Perinatal and Neurologic Complications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti, the mosquito vector also important in the transmission of the flaviviruses responsible for dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya. Due to occurrence in the same geographic regions, serological cross-reactivity, and similar, albeit often less severe clinical manifestations as dengue and chikungunya infections, ZIKV infection likely went undetected and/or misdiagnosed for many years. ZIKV is somewhat unique among flaviviruses in its ability to also be transmitted via sexual contact, non-sexual body fluids and perinatally.
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research