Zika virus surveillance in active duty u.S. military and dependents through the naval infectious diseases diagnostic laboratory

The Naval Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (NIDDL) serves as a reference clinical laboratory that supports Department of Defense (DoD) military treatment facilities worldwide in the detection and identification of high-risk and emerging infectious diseases. Since the emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Western Hemisphere in 2016, the NIDDL has been a central hub for ZIKV testing for DoD personnel and beneficiaries. Samples collected during patients’ clinical evaluations were screened for evidence of possible exposure to ZIKV using molecular and serological methods. An in-house ZIKV plaque reduction neutralization test was used to confirm the presence of ZIKV immunoglobulin M antibody. Of 1,420 individuals tested, ZIKV infection was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in 11 (0.8%); an additional 26 recent flaviviral infections (pos-sibly ZIKV) were identified based on serology (1.8%). These findings contribute to the understanding of the burden of ZIKV infections among DoD personnel and beneficiaries and highlight the role of the NIDDL in clinical diagnosis during emerging infectious disease outbreaks.