Several arboviruses (dengue, yellow fever, chikunkunya, West Nile) can be spread by perinatal transmission. There is evidence that Zika virus can also infect a newborn infant.
Routes of spread to a neonate:
(1) transplacental
(2) breast milk
(3) mosquito bite at the time of delivery
The mother may develop a skin rash and fever just prior to delivery.
The neonate may develop signs and symptoms (fever, rash, conjunctivitis) soon after delivery or may be asymptomatic. The stigma of the embryopathy (microcephaly, other) would be absent if infection occurs in the perinatal period.
The diagnosis would be supported by evidence of the virus in the mother, breast milk or neonate.
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