Zika virus: an alert for prevention

Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes of Aedes genus. Zika virus infection in pregnancy is associated with serious fetal outcomes such as fetal death, damage of the central nervous system, growth retardation and placental insufficiency. Microcephaly has been the sign that most concerned the scientific community, and perhaps it represents the tip of the iceberg of a greater public health problem. The purpose of this review was to alert and provide information to health professionals who take care of women in childbearing age and pregnant women, to direct all actions towards prevention. The review was completed by consulting different medical databases: Medline (PUBMED), Scielo, Science Direct and the protocols and indications issued by the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba in the National Update Workshop on diseases transmitted by the mosquito Aedes : dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and Yellow Fever, and the teratogenic risk of Zika virus, highlighting the community control actions. Childbearing age women and pregnant women along with newborn infants are the main groups at the greatest risk of acquiring Zika virus. As a result, the recommendations and actions of promotion and prevention should be directed mostly to this population