Three cases of Zika virus imported in Italy: need for a clinical awareness and evidence-based knowledge.
BACKGROUND
Since early 2015, a large epidemic of Zika Virus (ZIKV) is spreading across South and Central America. An association between congenital neurological malformations (mainly microcephaly), other neurological manifestations such as Guillain-Barrè Syndrome, and ZIKV infection is suspected.


METHODS
Three confirmed cases of ZIKV in travelers returning from Brazil between May 2015 and January 2016 are described. All patients had mild symptoms with no neurological complications.


CONCLUSIONS
An increasing awareness among clinicians about this emerging disease is advisable, both for the need to provide correct additional information to the patients and to travelers, with a special focus on pregnant women, and for the presence of the competent vector in Southern Europe.
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Emanuele
E
Nicastri
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Pisapia
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Angela
A
Corpolongo
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Francesco Maria
FM
Fusco
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Stefania
S
Cicalini
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Paola
P
Scognamiglio
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Concetta
C
Castilletti
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Licia
L
Bordi
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Antonino
A
Di Caro
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Maria Rosaria
MR
Capobianchi
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy. vincenzo.puro@inmi.it.|Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive "Lazzaro Spallanzani", Via Portuense 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. vincenzo.puro@inmi.it.
Vincenzo
V
Puro
National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292- 00149, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Ippolito
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D014195:Travel; D000071244:Zika Virus; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
Emerging or re-emerging diseases; Imported viral diseases; Pregnancy; Surveillance; Travel; Zika virus