Does Prior Dengue Virus Infection Protect Against Zika Infection?

Dengue and Zika viruses are closely related, mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses. Given strong evidence that prior dengue infection may either protect against subsequent dengue infections or predispose patients to a more severe course of subsequent dengue infections, researchers sought to investigate whether prior dengue infection might also affect the course of Zika infection.

Using serial serological tests and, if acute infections were suspected, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for Zika, researchers examined the introduction and spread of Zika into a well-characterized, long-term cohort of 3027 children in Managua, Nicaragua, between January 2016 and February 2017. Of these children, 743 (24.5%) had serological or clinical ev…