First Imported Case of Zika Virus Infection into Korea

J Korean Med Sci. 2016 Jul;31(7):1173-7. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.7.1173. Epub 2016 May 27.

Abstract

Since Zika virus has been spreading rapidly in the Americas from 2015, the outbreak of Zika virus infection becomes a global health emergency because it can cause neurological complications and adverse fetal outcome including microcephaly. Here, we report clinical manifestations and virus isolation findings from a case of Zika virus infection imported from Brazil. The patient, 43-year-old Korean man, developed fever, myalgia, eyeball pain, and maculopapular rash, but not neurological manifestations. Zika virus was isolated from his semen, and reverse-transcriptase PCR was positive for the virus in the blood, urine, and saliva on the 7th day of the illness but was negative on the 21st day. He recovered spontaneously without any neurological complications. He is the first case of Zika virus infection in Korea imported from Brazil.

Keywords: Brazil; Korea; Travel; Virus Shedding; Zika Virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brazil
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • RNA, Viral / urine
  • Republic of Korea
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Saliva / virology
  • Semen / virology
  • Travel
  • Zika Virus / genetics
  • Zika Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Zika Virus Infection / diagnosis*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral