An update on Zika Virus Infection: Review Article

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus which is endemic in several countries. ZIKV waspreviously reported to cause sporadic infections with subclinical or mild illness until 2015 whenZIKV spread throughout the America. Although first human case of ZIKV was detected in 1954,it has recently gained attention due to its association with several neurological defects innewborns if the mother is infected with ZIKV during pregnancy. The Zika virus is primarilytransmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. But in recent times, there are evidence ofnon-vector transmission such as sexual transmission, mother to fetus transmission (Verticaltransmission), blood transfusion, and infectious urine transmission. Till date, there is no antiviraldrug for treatment of Zika virus infection. The vaccines to prevent infection of Zika virus are stillunder development.This review summarizes the history, ZIKV infection during pregnancy, modesof transmission, clinical symptoms, vaccine development, and antiviral drug advancement