Zika virus infection

This page is about clinical aspects of the disease.  For microbiologic aspects of the causative organism(s), see Zika virus.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nate Michalak, B.A.

Synonyms and keywords: Zika virus; ZIKV; Zika; Zika virus disease; Zika disease; Zika fever

Overview

Zika fever is an illness caused by the Zika virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae. The fever and virus are named after the Ugandan forest where the virus was first isolated. The virus is commonly found in Africa but has also been found in Malaysia and Micronesia. Symptoms are similar to dengue fever, but are milder in form and usually last four to seven days. No hemorrhagic manifestations have been documented. Common symptoms include a maculopapular skin rash that starts on the face or trunk before moving to the rest of the body, conjunctivitis, joint pain, low-grade fevers and headache. It is generally believed that the virus is spread by mosquitos, making vector control an essential element to disease control.

Historical Perspective

• Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest of Uganda. The first human isolation of the virus occurred in 1968 in Nigeria.