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2016 saw a flood of research into Zika virus infection, as this previously obscure flavivirus (related to the agents of dengue and yellow fever) exploded across South America and the Caribbean. Like other flavivirus infections, Zika is transmitted primarily by a mosquito vector. Sexual transmission (both male–female and female–male) also has been reported, as has transfusion-associated disease and a single case of apparent casual transmission from an unusually sick patient to a relative providing nursing care (NEJM JW Infect Dis Nov 2016 and MMWR Recomm Rep 2016; 65:981).
Most Zika infections are asymptomatic. Symptomatic infections present with headache, myalgia, fever, rash, and conjunctivitis and usually resolve within 1 week. Serious ill…