ABSTRACT
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, which can be transmitted to humans by Aedes spp. mosquitoes. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys. Hereafter, Zika virus disease has been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. The outbreak of this epidemic began in 2015 in Brazil, and has spread rapidly to other countries. Clinical features of ZIKV infection range from asymptomatic cases to an influenza-like syndrome associated with fever, cutaneous rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis. Current observational studies suggest that ZIKV may cause more severe neurological sequelae such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and birthdefects, mainly microcephaly. The diagnosis is confirmed by viral RNA detection by genomic amplification (real-time PCR) and serological detection of IgM. Up to now, there is neither a vaccine nor prophylactic medications available to prevent and treat ZIKV infection. The effective prevention is protection against mosquito bites and to improve self-protection awareness. In this paper we summarized the epidemiology, biology, pathogenesis and detection of Zika virus, hoping to benefit the control of ongoing outbreaks as well as the development of vaccines and therapeutics.