Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya Co-Infections Reported

At least two Zika patients have reported co-infection of chikungunya and dengue in Pune, India. The Times of India reported on July 5, 2024, that an official from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) told the media that Pune City is a hotspot for vector-borne diseases.

Therefore, co-infections with chikungunya and dengue are not entirely out of the blue. However, their severity can be debatable, says the NIV.

Previously, several individuals, including pregnant women in Erandwane, India, were confirmed with Zika virus infections in June-July 2024.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says rare co-infections have been identified. Given the similar clinical features and lack of concurrent testing, Zika, chikungunya, and dengue co-infections might not be identified.

The CDC concluded in a February 2024 analysis that the frequency of Zika reinfections remains uncertain. A study emphasizes the critical role of ongoing genomic surveillance in viral infections to enhance public health interventions.

This under-diagnosis creates health risks for people, such as Zika, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause congenital disabilities such as microcephaly.

In the Region of the Americas, over 24,000 Zika cases have been reported this year, primarily in Brazil.

As of July 6, 2024, no approved Zika vaccines exist, but newer versions for chikungunya and dengue are available in certain countries.