Christina Petridou1, Andrew Simpson2, Andre Charlett3, Hermione Lyall4, Zaneeta Dhesi5, Emma Aarons6. 1. Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton, Salisbury, UK; Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth, UK. Electronic address: christina.petridou@nhs.net. 2. Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton, Salisbury, UK. Electronic address: andrew.simpson@phe.gov.uk. 3. Statistics and Modelling Economics Department, Public Health England, Colindale, London, UK. Electronic address: andre.charlett@phe.gov.uk. 4. Paediatric Infectious Diseases Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. Electronic address: hermione.lyall@nhs.net. 5. Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton, Salisbury, UK; University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: zaneeta.dhesi@nhs.net. 6. Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton, Salisbury, UK. Electronic address: emma.aarons@phe.gov.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2016, Zika virus (ZIKV) spread rapidly throughout the Americas and Caribbean in an explosive outbreak. In the UK, testing for ZIKV infection is performed at Public Health England's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. Here we present the UK's experience of imported ZIKV during the epidemic. METHOD: A retrospective review was performed on the laboratory computer system searching by orders for ZIKV PCR and/or ELISA serology tests between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017. Each individual request form and result was reviewed. RESULTS: Of 6333 symptomatic patients tested for ZIKV, 374 (6%) had molecular or serological evidence consistent with recent infection; most of these had travelled to the Caribbean in 2016. On follow-up of PCR-confirmed cases, ZIKV IgM disappeared within 6 weeks and often didn't appear in patients with previous dengue infection. Rash was the commonest symptom in PCR-confirmed infection (93%). There were only single cases of presumed sexual transmission and of in-utero transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The rise and fall in numbers of imported ZIKV cases largely reflected the temporal course of the outbreak in the Caribbean. ZIKV serology is difficult to interpret but the absence of antibodies to ZIKV 14 days after symptom onset makes infection very unlikely.
BACKGROUND: In 2016, Zika virus (ZIKV) spread rapidly throughout the Americas and Caribbean in an explosive outbreak. In the UK, testing for ZIKV infection is performed at Public Health England's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. Here we present the UK's experience of imported ZIKV during the epidemic. METHOD: A retrospective review was performed on the laboratory computer system searching by orders for ZIKV PCR and/or ELISA serology tests between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017. Each individual request form and result was reviewed. RESULTS: Of 6333 symptomatic patients tested for ZIKV, 374 (6%) had molecular or serological evidence consistent with recent infection; most of these had travelled to the Caribbean in 2016. On follow-up of PCR-confirmed cases, ZIKV IgM disappeared within 6 weeks and often didn't appear in patients with previous dengue infection. Rash was the commonest symptom in PCR-confirmed infection (93%). There were only single cases of presumed sexual transmission and of in-utero transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The rise and fall in numbers of imported ZIKV cases largely reflected the temporal course of the outbreak in the Caribbean. ZIKV serology is difficult to interpret but the absence of antibodies to ZIKV 14 days after symptom onset makes infection very unlikely.
Authors: Nuria Sanchez Clemente; Elizabeth B Brickley; Enny S Paixão; Marcia F De Almeida; Rosa E Gazeta; Danila Vedovello; Laura C Rodrigues; Steven S Witkin; Saulo D Passos Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-07-29 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: C Oeser; E Aarons; P T Heath; K Johnson; A Khalil; M Knight; R M Lynn; D Morgan; R Pebody Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2019-09-04 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Nuria Sanchez Clemente; Elizabeth B Brickley; Marcia Furquim de Almeida; Steven S Witkin; Saulo Duarte Passos; The Jundiai Zika Cohort Group Journal: Viruses Date: 2020-11-05 Impact factor: 5.048