Zika

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and is closely related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Most people infected with Zika virus do not have symptoms, but when present they are usually mild and last less than seven days. The most common symptoms of a Zika infection are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitits (red eyes). Other symptoms can also include muscle pain and headache1. Zika virus infection may lead to an increased risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome, an illness that causes temporary paralysis. Zika virus infection during pregnancy has been linked to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, most notably microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies2,3. Virus-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies are typically present after the first four days of illness and may be detectable for up to 12 weeks1. Combined with patient demography and clinical findings, detection of IgM antibodies to Zika virus provides an essential tool for diagnosing and following up an acute or recent infection.