Zika Virus, an Emerging Arbovirus in India: A Glimpse of Global Genetic Lineages

Zika fever (ZIKAF) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus illness of humans. The etiological agent, ZIKA virus (ZIKAV), though known to be distributed in the tropics causing sporadic cases, its rapid global expansion with pandemic potential raised global concern. Abrupt emergence in South American countries, Caribbean, and the Americas, the WHO declared ZIKA a public health emergency of international concern in 2016. ZIKAV usually causes mild infections, however, its recent unusual presentations of Guillen–Barré syndrome in adult and microcephaly in newborn babies of ZIKAV-infected mothers in Brazil alerted global public health authorities. Certain mutations on virus genome have been found correlating with clinical severity and its unusual transmission routes through sexual and blood transfusions emphasizes the necessity for understanding the virological determinants and its impact. Abrupt re-emergence in India (2018–2019) particularly in Gujarat (2016), Tamil Nadu (2017), Uttar Pradesh (2021), Maharashtra, Kerala (2021), and Karnataka (2023), indicate urgent measures for strengthening surveillance systems for designing effective prevention and control measures in the country. Given the global concern, here we reviewed the current knowledge of global ZIKAV genetic lineages vis-a-vis the Indian scenario and discusses the future priorities in ZIKAV research in India for effectively designing control strategies.