A Japanese man with a recent travel history to Thailand has tested positive for Zika virus, a mosquito borne disease, according to a first hand account published in ProMed Mail Saturday.

Japan Image/CIA
Japan
Image/CIA

The report notes  previous healthy 41-year-old man complained symptoms of  fever, headache, and rash after sightseeing in a variety of spots in Thailand. He acknowledges not using insect repellent. He presented with a low grade fever, bilateral nonpurulent conjunctivitis, maculopapular rash on the face, trunk, and extremities, including his palms and soles.

Laboratory examination revealed elevation of serum IgM antibody for Zika virus, thus the diagnosis was made.

There has been recent  reports of imported Zika in Japan, where they reported their 1st imported case last December linked to travel to the French Polynesia, where a large outbreak occurred. In addition,  Germany and Canada reported imported cases in 2013 in patients with a travel history to Thailand.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus related to yellow fever, dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis viruses; however, ZIKV produces a comparatively mild disease in humans. It was first isolated from an infected rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947.

Its relatively rare to see ZIKV outside of Africa and Asia. The virus is transmitted to humans via mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Information regarding pathogenesis of ZIKV is scarce but mosquito-borne flaviviruses are thought to replicate initially in dendritic cells near the site of inoculation then spread to lymph nodes and the bloodstream.

Symptoms may include a headache, a maculopapular rash covering the face, neck, trunk, and upper arms,which may spread to the palms and soles. Transient fever, malaise, and back pain may also develop.