Confirmed Zika virus infection in a Belgian traveler returning from Guatemala, and the diagnostic challenges of imported cases into Europe

Birgit De Smet, Dorien Van den Bossche, Charlotte van de Werve, Jacques Mairesse, Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Jo Michiels, Kevin K Ariën, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Lieselotte Cnops

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

Abstract

We report the first laboratory-confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in a Belgian traveler after a three week holiday in Guatemala, December 2015. This case along with other imported cases into Europe emphases once again the need for accurate diagnostic tools for this rapidly emerging virus. The challenge is to diagnose patients in the acute phase, which appears short, as serological testing is complicated by cross-reactivity, vaccination status and scarce availability of specific ZIKV tests.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Clinical Virology
Volume80
Pages (from-to)8-11
Number of pages4
ISSN1386-6532
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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