Zika virus infection

Statutory notification

• Zika virus infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See the National case definition, Department of Health (external site).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB). Use the “Arboviral encephalitis” tick-box on the notification form and specify “Zika virus”.
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Zika virus.
• Transmission: The main way that Zika virus spreads is through mosquitoes. There is evidence that Zika virus can also be transmitted to humans sexually, perinatally and through blood transfusion.
• Incubation period: 3 to 12 days.
• Infectious period: There is limited evidence regarding the infectious period for sexual transmission, but virus may persist in semen for several months.
• Restrictions on cases and potentially exposed persons:
  • Men who have travelled to a country with current or recent local Zika virus transmission and who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or use condoms consistently for the duration of the pregnancy, irrespective of whether or not they have had symptoms consistent with Zika infection.
  • Men who have had a confirmed Zika virus infection and have a partner who is not pregnant, irrespective of capacity to become pregnant, should abstain from sexual activity or use condoms consistently for at least 6 months from the time of diagnosis.
  • Men who have travelled in a Zika risk area and remain asymptomatic, and who have a partner who is not pregnant, irrespective of capacity to become pregnant, should abstain from sexual activity or use condoms consistently for at least 8 weeks after returning.
  • Men should not donate sperm for at least 8 weeks if they remain asymptomatic after travel in a Zika risk area, and for at least 6 months from the time of diagnosis if Zika infection is confirmed.
  • Persons with Zika virus infection should be advised not to travel to the Zika-receptive area of Australia (northern Queensland) and to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus for at least the first week after onset of symptoms or laboratory confirmation, to reduce the chance of spreading the infection.
  • Cases cannot donate blood for a minimum of 4 weeks after recovery from all symptoms.
• Contact management: Identify and manage pregnant women who were co-travellers or are sexual partners of confirmed or probable cases. Infants born to mothers infected with Zika virus during pregnancy should be tested and referred for specialist paediatric assessment.
• Treatment: No specific anti-viral treatment. Symptomatic treatment only.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow-up: Is conducted by public health units and the WA Department of Health.

Guidelines for health providers

• WA Department of Health information on Zika virus infection for clinicians (PDF 295KB)
• The Australian Department of Health (external site) has released information relating to pregnancy and sexual transmission, travelling overseas and public health management.

• Care of women with confirmed Zika virus infection during pregnancy in Australia | RANZCOG (external site)

• Zika virus fact sheet (Healthy WA)

Guidelines for public health units

• Zika-National guidelines for public health units (external site).
• The Australian Department of Health (external site) has released information relating to pregnancy and sexual transmission, travelling overseas and public health management.
• Zika virus fact sheet (Healthy WA)
• Zika virus case report form (PDF 358KB)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Up-to-date arboviral encephalitis notification data is currently not available
• General infectious disease reports
• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard