Zika Virus: A Mosquito-Borne Flavivirus

Abstract

The Zika virus is part of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. It is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that are active during the day, such as A. Aegypti, A. Albopictus. Its name comes from the Ugandan Zika Forest, where, in 1947, the virus was first isolated. The species shares dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile viruses with the Zika virus. There are sometimes no or only mild signs of an infection known as Zika fever or Zika virus disease, similar to a very mild type of dengue fever.