Zika Virus Epidemics: Only a Sudden Outbreak?

Abstract

The so-called Zika virus was first described in the year 1947 in a monkey in Uganda. The symptoms in monkeys and members of the local human population had been described as smooth at this time. Thus the presence of the virus and its effects were neglected or underestimated, although larger outbreaks among humans started to occur in 2007 in countries of Micronesia. However, beginning from 2013 an intense spreading started (or at least its notice was taken) in countries of the Pacific region. Special consideration of Zika virus infection was taken during the 2014 Olympic Games in Brazil, when large numbers of children were born showing the severe symptoms of a microcephalus. Today the virus is present in at least 40 countries including especially Central and South America as well as in Florida. Visitors of the Soccer World Championship (2014) and Olympic Games (2016) were apparently infected, too, since many returning Europeans were found to be seropositive for this virus. Although tropical Aedes species are constantly imported to European countries, local infection risks remain low, since their propagation at European temperatures is extremely low.