Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. First identified in Uganda in 1947, it has caused outbreaks in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific.
Symptoms of Zika virus infection are usually mild and include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. However, Zika virus is particularly concerning for pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects, such as microcephaly, and other neurological complications in the fetus.
Zika virus can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact, and from mother to child during pregnancy. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika virus; prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and reducing mosquito breeding sites.