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Zika Virus
- Virus: ssRNA flavivirus (same family as dengue, yellow fever, West Nile)
- 2015-2016 Americas epidemic: Brazil + Caribbean + Latin America; 1.5M cases + 4000+ microcephaly cases
- Vectors: Aedes aegypti + A. albopictus
- Multiple transmission routes:
- Mosquito bite (primary)
- Sexual (semen for months after infection â unique among flaviviruses)
- Vertical (in utero â congenital Zika syndrome)
- Blood transfusion
- Organ transplant
- Saliva, urine, breast milk
- Clinical:
- 80% asymptomatic
- Mild illness (when symptomatic): fever + rash (maculopapular, often pruritic) + arthralgia + non-purulent conjunctivitis + headache + retro-orbital pain
- Self-limited 5-7 days
- Mild compared to dengue + chikungunya
- Major Concerns:
- Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS): 1st trimester maternal infection â microcephaly + brain calcifications + ocular defects + arthrogryposis + hypertonia
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) post-Zika
- Sexual transmission longer than expected (semen 6+ months)
- Diagnosis:
- Zika PCR of blood (first 5 days) or urine (up to 14 days)
- IgM serology â cross-reactive with other flaviviruses (dengue!) â interpret cautiously
- PRNT (plaque reduction neutralization test) for confirmation
- Treatment: supportive
- Prevention:
- Mosquito control + DEET
- Travel advisories pregnant women (avoid endemic regions)
- Sexual precautions (condoms) for ⥠3 months post-Zika exposure
- No vaccine yet (multiple candidates in trials)
Chikungunya Virus
- Virus: ssRNA Togaviridae (alphavirus genus)
- âChikungunyaâ = Makonde language âto walk bent overâ (joint pain)
- Vectors: Aedes aegypti + A. albopictus
- Geography: Africa + Asia + Caribbean + Americas; expanding
- 2024 epidemic: severe in Brazil + Paraguay + Caribbean
- Clinical:
- Acute (days): fever + severe polyarthralgia (small joints, symmetric, debilitating) + maculopapular rash + myalgia + headache
- Subacute/Chronic (weeks-years): persistent arthralgia in 30-60% â months to years
- Distinguishes from dengue: more severe + prolonged joint pain
- Severe: in neonates (vertical transmission), elderly, immunocompromise; encephalitis possible
- Diagnosis:
- PCR of blood (first 7 days)
- IgM (after day 5)
- IgG (lifelong post-infection)
- Treatment:
- Acute: paracetamol + NSAIDs (cautious â distinguish from dengue first), rest, hydration
- Chronic arthralgia: NSAIDs, methotrexate / hydroxychloroquine / sulfasalazine for refractory
- Vaccine:
- Ixchiq (live attenuated, Valneva, FDA 2023) â first chikungunya vaccine â single dose 18+ yr
- Vimkunya (Bavarian Nordic, FDA 2025) â VLP-based, alternative
1ïžâ£ Zika Virus
Virology
- ssRNA flavivirus
- 2 main lineages: African + Asian
- Asian lineage â American outbreak strain
- Tropism for neural progenitor cells (basis of microcephaly)
2015-2016 Americas Epidemic
- Brazil 2015 detection
- Spread rapidly: Caribbean, Central + South America, Mexico, USA southern (local Florida + Texas)
- Brazil 2015-2016: 1.5+ million Zika cases; 4000+ microcephaly cases
- 2016-2017 declining cases (population immunity)
- 2018+ low-level transmission ongoing
Transmission Routes
Mosquito Bite
- Primary route
- Aedes aegypti main; A. albopictus also
Sexual Transmission
- Unique among flaviviruses
- Semen contains Zika RNA for 6+ months (longer than blood)
- Male-to-female, female-to-male, male-to-male reported
- Recommendation: barrier protection ⥠3 months post-Zika exposure (men + women); pregnancy planning delayed
Vertical Transmission
- In utero (especially 1st trimester)
- Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS): microcephaly + brain malformations + ocular + arthrogryposis
- Lifelong neurological impact
Other Routes
- Blood transfusion (now screened in endemic)
- Organ transplant
- Saliva (theoretical, low risk)
- Urine
- Breast milk (theoretical, no documented cases)
Clinical (Postnatal Acquired)
- 80% asymptomatic
- Mild illness when symptomatic:
- Low-grade fever
- Maculopapular pruritic rash
- Arthralgia (less severe than chikungunya)
- Non-purulent conjunctivitis
- Headache, retro-orbital pain
- Myalgia
- 5-7 days self-limited
- Hospitalization rare
Severe Complications
Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS)
- 1st trimester maternal infection most severe risk (~ 10-20% have major fetal abnormalities)
- 2nd-3rd trimester also possible
- Features:
- Microcephaly + craniofacial disproportion
- Ventriculomegaly + brain calcifications
- Cerebellar + brainstem hypoplasia
- Arthrogryposis
- Ocular: chorioretinal scarring, optic nerve hypoplasia
- Hearing loss
- Hypertonia, seizures, developmental delay
- Long-term impact on growth + development
- Multi-disciplinary care lifelong
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
- Post-Zika association documented
- Increased GBS during epidemic
- Likely molecular mimicry mechanism
- Treatment: IVIG / plasmapheresis (standard GBS treatment)
Neurological
- Encephalitis (rare)
- Myelitis (rare)
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
Diagnosis
- Zika PCR of blood (first 5 days; sensitivity declines after)
- Zika PCR of urine (up to 14 days; sensitive)
- IgM ELISA (after day 5; cross-reacts with dengue, yellow fever, JE, etc.)
- PRNT (plaque reduction neutralization test) â for serologic confirmation
- Distinguishing from dengue critical â both treated similarly but different prevention
Treatment
- Supportive â no specific antiviral
- Acetaminophen
- NSAIDs after ruling out dengue
- Hydration, rest
Prevention
Mosquito Control
- Same as dengue
- Aedes vector control
Personal Protection
- DEET 20-30%
- Picaridin 20%
- Long sleeves + pants
- Bed nets
Travel Advisories
- Pregnant women should avoid travel to active Zika areas
- Counsel before travel + after travel
- Defer pregnancy 3-6 months post-Zika exposure
Sexual Transmission Prevention
- Condoms ⥠3 months post-Zika exposure (men + women)
- Defer pregnancy 3-6 months
- Pre-conception counseling
Vaccine
- Multiple candidates in Phase 2-3 trials:
- DNA vaccine (NIH)
- mRNA vaccines
- Whole-virus inactivated
- No licensed Zika vaccine yet
Surveillance
- éå ± in many countries
- Pregnancy registries for Zika exposure outcome
2ïžâ£ Chikungunya Virus
Virology
- ssRNA alphavirus
- Togaviridae family
- Single serotype
- 3 main genotypes: West African, East/Central/South African (ECSA), Asian
- Tropism for fibroblasts + macrophages + endothelial cells
Epidemiology
- Africa + Asia historically
- Caribbean 2013-2014 outbreak
- Americas 2014-2024 ongoing
- 2024 Brazil + Paraguay severe epidemic
- Aedes aegypti main; A. albopictus expanding (Europe)
- Local outbreaks Italy + France (2007-2017+ sporadic) due A. albopictus
Transmission
- Mosquito bite (primary)
- Vertical (occasionally) â neonatal severe disease
- Blood transfusion (rare)
- Person-to-person: NOT direct
Clinical
Acute Phase (Days)
- 3-7 day incubation
- Sudden onset fever (39-40°C)
- Severe symmetric polyarthralgia â small joints especially hands + wrists + ankles + knees + elbows
- âBent overâ walking due joint pain (origin of name)
- Maculopapular rash (50%)
- Myalgia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- GI symptoms
- 5-10 days fever resolves
Subacute / Chronic Phase
- 30-60% develop chronic arthralgia
- Persistent joint pain weeks to years
- Often disabling
- Mimics RA in some
- Inflammatory markers can be elevated
- Imaging: synovitis + erosions in severe chronic
- Quality of life impact significant
Severe / Atypical
- Neonatal vertical transmission â severe disease (encephalopathy, myocarditis, hemorrhage)
- Elderly + immunocompromise more severe
- Encephalitis, myocarditis (rare adult)
- Hepatitis
- Bullous dermatitis (rare)
Diagnosis
- PCR first 5-7 days (most sensitive acute)
- IgM after day 5 (acute marker)
- IgG lifelong (post-infection)
- Distinguish from dengue + Zika clinically + serologically
Treatment
Acute
- Supportive
- Paracetamol + cautious NSAIDs (after ruling out dengue)
- Rest + hydration
- No antiviral
Chronic Arthralgia
- NSAIDs + analgesia
- DMARDs if persistent severe:
- Methotrexate
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Sulfasalazine
- Anti-TNF in refractory
- Physical therapy
- Joint injections occasionally
Vaccines
Ixchiq (Valneva, FDA 2023)
- First chikungunya vaccine licensed
- Live attenuated (deletion mutant)
- Single dose IM, 18+ yr
- Efficacy ~ 99% generating neutralizing antibodies (correlate of protection)
- Indications: travel to endemic areas; outbreak control
- Caveats: live attenuated â caution in immunocompromise; pregnancy precaution
- USA + EU + UK approved
Vimkunya (Bavarian Nordic, FDA 2025)
- VLP-based (recombinant)
- Alternative
- Non-live, may be option for some populations
Prevention
- Mosquito control
- DEET + protective clothing + bed nets
- Vaccine for travelers + outbreak areas (Ixchiq)
- Surveillance