author(s)
Anjali Padhan, Deep Pratik, Tushar Jyotiranjan, Gopalaxmi Panda and Swagat Mohapatra

abstract
Zika virus infection has proved to be a concern for physicians worldwide because of its communicable nature and high prevalence rates in the areas of outbreak despite of low mortality rates. Zika virus is a positive sense single stranded RNA virus of flaviviridae family and a close relative of Spondweni virus. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Zika virus has emerged from East Africa during the late 1800s or early 1900s. Clinical signs of zika virus infection are mild involving rashes, fever, dizziness, stomach ache, arthralgia, myaligia, ankle edema, malaise etc. It adversely affects the embryo development and results in a birth defect ‘microcephaly’. The residents of tropical and subtropical countries are more susceptible to Zika virus infection owing to the higher population of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It is mainly a mosquito born virus, Aedes hensilli being the most potential vector; various other modes of transmission have also been described though. Largest outbreak of zika virus has been reported in pacific islands in 2013 and 2014. India with lots of travelers from south America is at higher risk of ZIKV outbreak. Both molecular and serological tests are recommended for diagnosis of ZIKV infection.