What is Zika Virus? 

Summary of disease
Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus causing a febrile illness known as Zika virus disease. Zika virus has not been reported from South Africa. Physicians may encounter cases in returning travelers.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms are: low-grade fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia of the small joints of hands/feet and conjunctivitis.

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Specialised laboratory diagnostic investigation for Zika fever is required to confirm or exclude diagnosis. Typically, the viraemic phase of Zika fever is so short and negative RT-PCR results do not exclude the diagnosis of a Zika virus infection. Protection against mosquitos is the mainstay of prevention in Zika virus prevalent areas. There is no prophylaxis or vaccine to prevent the infection

Notifiable medical conditions
Zika virus, like other non-endemic arboviral infections, is listed as Category 3 notifiable medical condition in the country.