Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Zika virus was incidentally discovered in Uganda in 1947 during mosquito and primate surveillance. It was named for the forest in Uganda where it was first discovered. Until recently Zika virus remained confined to a few countries in across Africa and into Asia and circulated predominantly in wild primates and Aedes africanus mosquitos. Human infections were rare.
More recently, Zika virus has spread from Africa into several countries in Latin America along with the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Brazilian officials estimate that between 440,000 and 1,300,000 cases have occurred in 2015. In 2016, Zika virus transmission has been reported in 19 other countries or territories in the Americas. Western Hemisphere countries and territories include Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.
Zika Virus Update
Image credits: CDC