Three cases of Zika virus imported in Italy: Need for a clinical awareness and evidence-based knowledge

Abstract

Background: Since early 2015, a large epidemic of Zika Virus (ZIKV) is spreading across South and Central America. An association between congenital neurological malformations (mainly microcephaly), other neurological manifestations such as Guillain-Barrè Syndrome, and ZIKV infection is suspected. Case presentation: Three confirmed cases of ZIKV in travelers returning from Brazil between May 2015 and January 2016 are described. All patients had mild symptoms with no neurological complications. Conclusions: An increasing awareness among clinicians about this emerging disease is advisable, both for the need to provide correct additional information to the patients and to travelers, with a special focus on pregnant women, and for the presence of the competent vector in Southern Europe.