Zika virus infection risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Serge Korjian M.D., Ilan Dock, B.S., Nate Michalak, B.A., {{YD}], Yamuna Kondapally, M.B.B.S[2]

The most potent risk factor in the development of Zika virus infection is travel to endemic areas. Other risk factors include exposure to infected individuals via blood transfusion, sexual intercourse, or vertically to fetuses from infected mothers.

Common risk factors in the development of Zika virus infection include:^[1][2]

• Mosquito bites in endemic areas (as listed below as areas of prior outbreaks)
• The most potent risk factors related to contracting Zika virus are traveling to endemic areas, such as Asia and Africa (reported prior to 2007), the Federated States of Micronesia (reported in 2007), and most recently in the South American regions of Chile (reported in 2014), Brazil and Colombia (reported in 2015), Guatemala, El Salvador, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico (all cases were reported in 2015).
• Perinatal exposure
• Sexual intercourse with infected individuals
• Blood transfusion from an asymptomatic donor in an endemic area
• Accidental laboratory exposure (needle/sharps injury)
• Sickle cell disease