Zika virus

This article is about the virus. For the disease, see Zika fever. For the outbreak, see 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic.
Not to be confused with Zika virus disease.

Zika virus
Electron micrograph of "Zika virus". Virus particles (colored purple) are 40 nm in diameter, with an outer envelope and a dense inner core.
Electron micrograph of Zika virus. Virus particles (digitally colored purple) are 40 nm in diameter, with an outer envelope and a dense inner core.[1]
"Zika virus" viral envelope model, colored by chains, PDB entry 5ire
Zika virus viral envelope model, colored by chains, PDB entry 5ire[2]
Virus classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Kingdom: Orthornavirae
Phylum: Kitrinoviricota
Class: Flasuviricetes
Order: Amarillovirales
Family: Flaviviridae
Genus: Flavivirus
Species:
Zika virus

Zika virus (ZIKV; pronounced /ˈziːkə/ or /ˈzɪkə/[3][4]) is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.[5] It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus.[5] Its name comes from the Ziika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.[6] Zika virus shares a genus with the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses.[6] Since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. From 2007 to 2016, the virus spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean to the Americas, leading to the 2015–2016 Zika virus epidemic.[7]

The infection, known as Zika fever or Zika virus disease, often causes no or only mild symptoms, similar to a very mild form of dengue fever.[5] While there is no specific treatment, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and rest may help with the symptoms.[8] As of April 2019, no vaccines have been approved for clinical use, however a number of vaccines are currently in clinical trials.[9][10][11] Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her baby. This can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other birth defects.[12][13] Zika infections in adults may result rarely in Guillain–Barré syndrome.[14]

In January 2016, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel guidance on affected countries, including the use of enhanced precautions, and guidelines for pregnant women including considering postponing travel.[15][16] Other governments or health agencies also issued similar travel warnings,[17][18][19] while Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica advised women to postpone getting pregnant until more is known about the risks.[18][20]

  1. ^ Goldsmith C (18 March 2005). "TEM image of the Zika virus". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. ^ Sirohi D, Chen Z, Sun L, Klose T, Pierson TC, Rossmann MG, Kuhn RJ (April 2016). "The 3.8 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of Zika virus". Science. 352 (6284): 467–470. Bibcode:2016Sci...352..467S. doi:10.1126/science.aaf5316. PMC 4845755. PMID 27033547.
  3. ^ "How to pronounce Zika". HowToPronounce.com.
  4. ^ "Zika virus". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 20 (6): 1090. June 2014. doi:10.3201/eid2006.ET2006. PMC 4036762. PMID 24983096.
  5. ^ a b c Malone RW, Homan J, Callahan MV, Glasspool-Malone J, Damodaran L, Schneider A, et al. (March 2016). "Zika Virus: Medical Countermeasure Development Challenges". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 10 (3): e0004530. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004530. PMC 4774925. PMID 26934531.
  6. ^ a b Sikka V, Chattu VK, Popli RK, Galwankar SC, Kelkar D, Sawicki SG, et al. (11 February 2016). "The Emergence of Zika Virus as a Global Health Security Threat: A Review and a Consensus Statement of the INDUSEM Joint working Group (JWG)". Journal of Global Infectious Diseases. 8 (1): 3–15. doi:10.4103/0974-777X.176140. PMC 4785754. PMID 27013839.
  7. ^ Mehrjardi MZ (1 January 2017). "Is Zika Virus an Emerging TORCH Agent? An Invited Commentary". Virology. 8: 1178122X17708993. doi:10.1177/1178122X17708993. PMC 5439991. PMID 28579764.
  8. ^ "Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment". Zika virus. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. ^ Abbink, P; Stephenson, KE; Barouch, DH (19 June 2018). "Zika virus vaccines". Nature Reviews. Microbiology. 16 (10): 594–600. doi:10.1038/s41579-018-0039-7. PMC 6162149. PMID 29921914.
  10. ^ Fernandez, E; Diamond, MS (19 April 2017). "Vaccination strategies against Zika virus". Current Opinion in Virology. 23: 59–67. doi:10.1016/j.coviro.2017.03.006. PMC 5576498. PMID 28432975.
  11. ^ "Zika Virus Vaccines | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases". www.niaid.nih.gov. 16 August 2018.
  12. ^ Rasmussen SA, Jamieson DJ, Honein MA, Petersen LR (May 2016). "Zika Virus and Birth Defects--Reviewing the Evidence for Causality". The New England Journal of Medicine. 374 (20): 1981–1987. doi:10.1056/NEJMsr1604338. PMID 27074377. S2CID 20675635.
  13. ^ "CDC concludes Zika causes microcephaly and other birth defects". CDC. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Zika virus microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome situation report" (PDF). World Health Organization. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Zika Virus in the Caribbean". Travelers' Health: Travel Notices. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 15 January 2016.
  16. ^ Petersen EE, Staples JE, Meaney-Delman D, Fischer M, Ellington SR, Callaghan WM, Jamieson DJ (January 2016). "Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak--United States, 2016". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 65 (2): 30–33. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6502e1. PMID 26796813.
  17. ^ "Zika virus: Advice for those planning to travel to outbreak areas". ITV Report. ITV News. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Pregnant Irish women warned over Zika virus in central and South America". RTÉ News. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Zika: Olympics plans announced by Rio authorities". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016. The Rio de Janeiro authorities have announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the Olympic Games later this year. ... The US, Canada and EU health agencies have issued warnings saying pregnant women should avoid traveling to Brazil and other countries in the Americas which have registered cases of Zika.
  20. ^ "Zika virus triggers pregnancy delay calls". BBC News. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.