Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Zika virus infection risk factors
Introduction
Overview
Overview
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
Common risk factors
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
References
References
- ↑ “Epidemiological Alert: Neurological Syndromes, Congenital Malformations, and Zika Virus Infection. Implications for Public Health in the Americas”. Pan American Health Organization. Pan American Health Organization. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ↑ Arzuza-Ortega L, Polo A, Pérez-Tatis G, López-GarcÃa H, Parra E, Pardo-Herrera LC; et al. (2016). “Fatal Sickle Cell Disease and Zika Virus Infection in Girl from Colombia”. Emerg Infect Dis. 22 (5): 925–7. doi:10.3201/eid2205.151934. PMC 4861530. PMID 27089120.
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]