The unfolding story of Zika virus in the Americas is much more than a mosquito-borne disease that may affect fetal development. It is the story of a disease that exposed problems and raised challenges that the affected health systems and governments cannot ignore. Next, based largely on lessons provided by Brazil’s Zika epidemic, we discuss five critical problems and challenges and reflect on opportunities to remedy them. 

Original Source

Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging flavivirus, generally causes mild infection in humans but is associated with severe neurologic complications and adverse fetal outcomes. ZIKV is transmitted to humans primarily by aedes mosquitoes. However, there is some evidence of sexual transmission. Two studies have shown the presence of infectious ZIKV in semen. A recent article described detection of ZIKV RNA in semen 62 days after the onset of illness, but infectious virus was not cultured.

Since the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV), reports of microcephaly have increased significantly in Brazil; however, causality between the viral epidemic and malformations in fetal brains needs further confirmation. Here, we examine the effects of ZIKV infection in human neural stem cells growing as neurospheres and brain organoids. Using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy, we show that ZIKV targets human brain cells, reducing their viability and growth as neurospheres and brain organoids. These results suggest that ZIKV abrogates neurogenesis during human brain development.