Zika virus



Background

  • Isolated in Africa first in 1947 -South Pacific’s / Brazil since May 2015
  • Increased microcephaly / neurological disorders and GB syndrome
  • Cases in Dallas of sexual transmission
  • BMJ regular updates at http://www.bmj.com/freezikaresources

Clinical

  • Mild self-limiting illness x 2 weeks ¼ only are symptomatic but all are at risk of complications
  • If contracted in early pregnancy – worse prognosis

Investigations

On return from an endemic area – advice for pregnancy women – need to see OBGYN for:

  • Baseline Fetal USS
  • If normal repeat in 4 weekly for the entire pregnancy
  • Unlikely to see any anomaly before 20 weeks

If symptomatic – serology and urine test for Zika

  • Viral RNA – blood x 5/7
  • Urine x 2 weeks



Content by Dr Michelle de Brun (VHI Swiftcare). Íomhar O' Sullivan 19/08/2016. Last review Dr ÍOS 10/06/21.