2015–16 Zika virus epidemic

A Zika virus outbreak that began in Brazil in 2015 and spread across the Americas, drawing global attention to congenital birth defects and neurological complications.

Congenital Zika syndrome: A pattern of birth defects and disabilities associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy. The epidemic exposed severe fetal outcomes, including microcephaly and brain abnormalities.
Zika virus: A mosquito-borne flavivirus that can also spread through sexual contact and from a pregnant person to a fetus. This virus was the epidemic's pathogen and the source of its distinctive transmission risks.
Brazil: The largest country in South America, where the 2015–16 Zika epidemic was first recognized in the Americas. Brazil reported the region's initial outbreak and the subsequent surge in suspected congenital cases.
Célia Regina de Carvalho Pinto Silva Zanella: A Brazilian researcher who helped identify Zika virus in amniotic fluid from pregnancies affected by fetal abnormalities. Her team's findings helped connect maternal infection with fetal exposure.
Zika vaccine: A vaccine designed to prevent infection by Zika virus; no licensed vaccine is currently available. The epidemic accelerated vaccine research, but durable prevention remains unresolved.
Microcephaly: A condition in which an infant's head is substantially smaller than expected, often reflecting abnormal brain development. A sharp rise in cases in Brazil became an early signal of congenital harm.
Aedes aegypti: A mosquito species that transmits several human viruses, including Zika, dengue, and yellow fever. Its range across tropical urban areas enabled rapid spread through the Americas.
French Polynesia Zika outbreak: A 2013–14 Zika outbreak in French Polynesia associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome and later linked to congenital effects. Earlier neurological signals provided evidence that became relevant during the Americas epidemic.
Laura Rodrigues: A Brazilian epidemiologist whose research examined Zika infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Her work contributed to assessing the epidemic's effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Zika virus diagnostics: Laboratory methods used to detect Zika virus infection, including molecular and antibody tests. Cross-reactions with related viruses complicated case counts and surveillance.

Linked from 1 page

Zika feverNarrower topic: The epidemic unfolded within a broader expansion of the virus across the region.