RESUMO
Zika virus is an arbovirus that was first discovered in Africa in 1947. Until some time ago, it was an unnoticed emergent virus, due to its low epidemiological impact and its mild flu-like symptoms. However, from 2007 on, Zika virus started to propagate throughout the world and was first locally transmitted in America in 2015. Since then, autochthonous cases of Zika infection have been reported on 33 countries of the Americas. The most relevant impact of the Zika virus outspread is its supposed link to the increase in birth defects and microcephaly in newborns in regions with high Zika virus infection incidence during the past two years. Therefore, the World Health Organization declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. This review describes Zika virus epidemiology, transmission mechanisms and pathogeny, such as its clinical presentation, adverse fetal outcomes, diagnosis, treatment and current recommendations for transmission prevention.