Zika virus in the Americas: Early epidemiological and genetic findings
Faria NR., Azevedo RDSDS., Kraemer MUG., Souza R., Cunha MS., Hill SC., Thézé J., Bonsall MB., Bowden TA., Rissanen I., Rocco IM., Nogueira JS., Maeda AY., Vasami FGDS., Macedo FLDL., Suzuki A., Rodrigues SG., Cruz ACR., Nunes BT., Medeiros DBDA., Rodrigues DSG., Nunes Queiroz AL., Silva EVPD., Henriques DF., Travassos da Rosa ES., de Oliveira CS., Martins LC., Vasconcelos HB., Casseb LMN., Simith DDB., Messina JP., Abade L., Lourenço J., Alcantara LCJ., Lima MMD., Giovanetti M., Hay SI., de Oliveira RS., Lemos PDS., Oliveira LFD., de Lima CPS., da Silva SP., Vasconcelos JMD., Franco L., Cardoso JF., Vianez-Júnior JLDSG., Mir D., Bello G., Delatorre E., Khan K., Creatore M., Coelho GE., de Oliveira WK., Tesh R., Pybus OG., Nunes MRT., Vasconcelos PFC.
Zika virus genomes from Brazil The Zika virus outbreak is a major cause for concern in Brazil, where it has been linked with increased reports of otherwise rare birth defects and neuropathology. In a phylogenetic analysis, Faria et al. infer a single introduction of Zika to the Americas and estimated the introduction date to be about May to December 2013—some 12 months earlier than the virus was reported. This timing correlates with major events in the Brazilian cultural calendar associated with increased traveler numbers from areas where Zika virus has been circulating. A correlation was also observed between incidences of microcephaly and week 17 of pregnancy. Science , this issue p. 345