Zika Virus : An Update - A Brief Review

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Flavivirus genus and the Flaviviridae family of arthropod-borne viruses (arbovirus). The Zika virus is predominantly transmitted by Aedes aegypti, but the virus can also be transmitted by other Aedes species. In Africa, ZIKV was first isolated from rhesus monkeys in 1947 and from mosquitoes in 1948. For half a century before appearing in the Pacific and the Americas, ZIKV infections in humans were intermittent. ZIKV is normally spread via the bite of mosquitoes that are infected. The clinical presentation of Zika fever, especially those due to arboviruses such as dengue and chikungunya, is unspecific and may be misdiagnosed as other infectious diseases. Before the major French diagnosis, The virus gained the attention of public health authorities because of its strongly suspected relationship with maternal-fetal transmission and microcephalus in infected animals. ZIKV infection was only associated with mild disease. Serological diagnosis is complicated by cross-reactivity among members of the genus Flavivirus. Moreover, this article will give a brief review on zika virus epidemic in India.