Prior to 2015, Zika Virus (ZIKV) outbreaks had occurred in areas of Africa, 
Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Although a causal relationship between 
Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, such a 
connection has not yet been scientifically proven. In May 2015, the outbreak of 
ZIKV infection in Brazil led to reports of syndrome and pregnant women giving 
birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes; the Pan American 
Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed ZIKV 
infection in Brazil. Currently, ZIKV outbreaks are ongoing and it will be 
difficult to predict how the virus will spread over time. ZIKV is transmitted to 
humans primarily through the bite of infected mosquitos, Aedes aegypti and Aedes 
albopictus. These mosquitoes are the principle vectors of dengue, and ZIKV 
disease generally is reported to include symptoms associated with acute febrile 
illnesses that clinically resembles dengue fever. The laboratory diagnosis can 
be performed by using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 
on serum, viral nucleic acid and virus-specific immunoglobulin M. There is 
currently no vaccine and antiviral treatment available for ZIKV infection, and 
the only way to prevent congenital ZIKV infection is to prevent maternal 
infection. In February 2016, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) 
activated ZIKV as a Category V Notifiable Infectious Disease similar to Ebola 
virus disease and MERS.