Zika virus infection historical perspective
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nate Michalak, B.A.
Overview
Zika virus was first isolated from a rhesus Monkey in Uganda. The virus was first isolated from humans in 1968 in Nigeria. Since then, outbreaks have occurred throughout Asia and Africa. The most recent outbreak occurred in Brazil in April 2015.
Historical Perspective
- Zika virus was first isolated in 1947 from a rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest of Uganda. The first human isolation of the virus occurred in 1968 in Nigeria. [1]
- Between 1951 through 1981, evidence of human infection was additionally reported in the following countries:[1]
- Africa: Tanzania, Egypt, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, and Gabon
- Asia: India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia
- The first outbreak of Zika virus outside of Africa and Asia occurred in April 2007 on the Yap Island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The disease was initially thought to be dengue, but the Chikungunya and Ross River viruses were also suspected.[1]
- A larger outbreak of Zika virus occurred in the Brazilian district of Camaçari and neighboring Salvador City in April 2015. An unknown agent was causing flu-like symptoms, followed by rash and arthralgia, in approximately 500 individuals. RT-PCR techniques by researchers at the Federal University of Bahia confirmed the causative organism to be Zika virus.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hayes EB (2009). "Zika virus outside Africa". Emerg Infect Dis. 15 (9): 1347–50. doi:10.3201/eid1509.090442. PMC 2819875. PMID 19788800.
- ↑ Campos GS, Bandeira AC, Sardi SI (2015). "Zika Virus Outbreak, Bahia, Brazil". Emerg Infect Dis. 21 (10): 1885–6. doi:10.3201/eid2110.150847. PMC 4593454. PMID 26401719.