title: Zika virus infection in 18 travellers returning from Surinam and the Dominican Republic, The Netherlands, November 2015-March 2016.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report 18 cases of confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in travellers returning to the Netherlands from Surinam (South America, bordering northern Brazil) and the Dominican Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multi-centre study, we collected epidemiological, virological and clinical characteristics, as well as data on travel history, underlying illness and laboratory results of the 18 imported ZIKV infection cases using a standardised form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most cases had a self-limiting course of disease, two patients developed complications, one had Guillain-Barré and another had severe thrombocytopenia. Four patients had underlying illness. One of the reported cases was pregnant. Three of 13 patients tested had a weak-positive result for dengue IgM. The majority of patients were born in Suriname and/or visiting friends and relatives (VFR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Providing pre-travel advice among travellers, especially VFR travellers, is needed to enhance the use of preventive measures against ZIKV infection. Further evidence on health risks associated with ZIKV infection is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. janneke.duijster@rivm.nl.
authors.forename: Janneke W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Duijster
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, A01-330, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goorhuis
authors.affiliation: Institute for Tropical Diseases, Harbour Hospital, Rotterdam, Haringvliet 72, 3011 TG, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Perry J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Genderen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, Ee 1726, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marion P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Reimerink
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, A01-330, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, Ee 1726, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemiek A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van der Eijk
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes H C T
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van den Kerkhof
authors.affiliation: Department of Viroscience, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Wytemaweg 80, Ee 1726, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chantal B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Reusken
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susan J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hahné
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004293:Dominican Republic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D013532:Suriname; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult; D000071244:Zika Virus; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection
keywords: Dominican Republic; Imported viral diseases; Netherlands; Surinam; Travel; Zika virus