Public Health Response to Zika Virus Exposure of Air Force Members Deployed to Caribbean Islands, 2016

Abstract Introduction The emergence of Zika virus disease (ZVD) in areas of military operations provided a new opportunity for force health protection. ZVD infection had an estimated 4:1 asymptomatic-to-symptomatic ratio and can cause neurologic sequelae. Materials and Methods We provide a brief rep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2020-09, Vol.185 (9-10), p.e1453-e1460
Main Authors: Voss, Jameson, Dacey, Danny, Ruiz, Stefani, Burkhardt, Amanda, Pujolar, Alain, Swope, Christina, Lehman, Mark, Shaw, Tammy, Leon, Juan, Erich, Roger, Cowan, James, West, Carol, Walters, Carol, Macias, Elizabeth, Lucas, Pauline
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asymptomatic
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Military Health Services
Military Personnel
Public Health
West Indies
Zika Virus
Zika Virus Infection - diagnosis
Zika Virus Infection - epidemiology
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Summary:Abstract Introduction The emergence of Zika virus disease (ZVD) in areas of military operations provided a new opportunity for force health protection. ZVD infection had an estimated 4:1 asymptomatic-to-symptomatic ratio and can cause neurologic sequelae. Materials and Methods We provide a brief report of a field investigation utilizing laboratory-based surveillance and survey instruments to characterize ZVD risk among personnel deployed to the Dominican Republic in support of Operation NEW HORIZONS (NH). Additionally, we describe a cluster of 3 ZVD cases among 8 aircrew on a short mission to St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands). Results Following Operation NH, 6 of a total 189 deployed cohort members tested positive for ZVD by immunoglobulin M and confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization test (3.2%). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing in urine or serum was positive in 4 of those 6 cases. All 6 cases reported at least one symptom, with 5 reporting subjective fever and arthralgia and 4 reporting rash. Cases were less likely to have air-conditioned living quarters (odds ratio = 0.1; 95% confidence interval 0.02–0.77; P 
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.1093/milmed/usaa188