First case of confirmed congenital Zika syndrome in continental Africa.

BACKGROUND

Zika virus has been responsible for recent outbreaks in the western hemisphere with known neurological complications such as microcephaly. This complication has not been previously documented in continental Africa.

METHODS

Neurological evaluation of the newborn was performed after birth, at one and two months of age. The mother and the newborn sera samples were tested by immunofluorescent assay (IFA; immunoglobulin G [IgG] and IgM) for Zika virus and the presence of Zika virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) was checked by qualitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in placenta, blood and urine samples.

RESULTS

We report on a newborn, born in Portugal, with microcephaly with confirmed congenital Zika virus infection (Asian lineage) imported from Angola with typical clinical and imaging findings.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge this is the first report that shows the circulation of the Asian lineage in Angola and the first report of a congenital Zika syndrome in continental Africa.