title: Little risk of severe complications associated with Zika infection in New Zealand.
abstract: Zika virus infection has raised considerable concern in New Zealand, but the risks faced by most New Zealanders, while real, are quite small as New Zealand does not harbor the primary mosquito vector. Furthermore, in individuals with a competent immune system, the acute illness caused by Zika virus infection is generally mild. Serious complication associated with Zika virus infections include microcephaly and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Pacific Island countries have reported cases of Zika virus infection and these climates support the mosquito vector. Thus, travelers to these areas are at risk of infection. New Zealand travelers returning from endemic areas have developed the illness associated with the virus, but the probability of autochthonous transmission in New Zealand is very small.
authors.affiliation: Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peacey
authors.affiliation: Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Buenz
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel; D000071244:Zika Virus; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission