Zika Virus: Navigating the Public Health Landscape - Insights into Transmission, Symptoms, and Control Strategies

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The Zika virus is characterized as an Arbovirus, more specifically as a member of the Flavivirus genus and the Flaviviridae family. Following its discovery in Africa in 1947, human cases of Zika virus infection remained few for more than five decades before spreading to the Americas and the Pacific. The structure of the Zika virus is common with Flavivirus but differs in the glycosylation site, the site is five amino acids larger and nearer to the immunodominant fusion which influences receptor interactions. The classification of Zika virus is based on genomic and phylogeny data, the most common Zika Virus strains are the ZIKV Asian strain and ZIKV Brazilian Strain. The main hosts for ZIKV are the non-human primates who undergo a sylvatic cycle with mosquito to spread the virus. Transmission can be zoonotic, sexual, arthropodal, and even maternofetal. Clinical features of the Zika virus include maculopapular rash/pruritis, conjunctivitis, fever, arthritis/myalgia, burning sensation in the extremities, retro-orbital pain, lymphadenopathy and rhinorrhea. By December 2021, there were recorded reports of Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission by mosquitoes in 89 countries and territories in five of the six WHO Regions, except the Eastern Mediterranean Region. There is a scarcity of accurate and up-to-date epidemiological data about the Zika virus. The annual incidence rate of the Zika virus (ZIKV) increased by an average of 72.85% every year between 2011 and 2015. From 20.25 per 100,000 in 2015 to 3.44 per 100,000 in 2019, there was a further drop. The bulk of ZIKV infections were detected in Latin America. While no definitive vaccines or drugs exist for Zika virus [ZIKV], promising candidates are undergoing clinical trials. Various antiviral strategies target viral and host proteins, while drug repurposing offers a faster, more cost-effective approach. WHO recommends viral control policies for the affectedregions. In this book chapter, one will learn about the characteristics, clinical features, epidemiology, prevention and guidelines on Zika Virus.