General description

Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Zika virus, belonging to the Flavivirus family. It is primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

Approximately 80% of infected individuals remain asymptomatic. Among those who develop symptoms after an incubation period of 2 to 7 days, common manifestations include mild fever, joint pain, skin rashes (erythema and maculopapular rash), and conjunctival redness. Other possible symptoms include headache, muscle pain, and retro-orbital pain.

Zika virus infection poses a significant risk to pregnant women, as the virus can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta. This can lead to congenital Zika syndrome, characterized by severe neurological complications such as microcephaly, brain atrophy, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, seizures, ocular abnormalities, and sensorineural hearing loss. The risk of severe neurological damage is highest when infection occurs before 14 weeks of gestation.

While mosquito bites are the primary mode of transmission, human-to-human transmission is rare. However, cases of transmission through sexual contact, blood transfusion, tears, and other bodily fluids have been reported.