Seroprevalence of Zika Virus in Moroccan Travelers (From Cote D Ivoire; Mali)

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family that is usually transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. WHO declared Zika virus disease a public health emergency of international concern on 1 February 2016. In Morocco, the risk of introduction of arboviruses is linked to the risk of entry of patients from endemic areas and the risk of introduction or presence of competent vectors. Our study aims to identify the seroprevalence of the Zika virus among Moroccan travelers who have stayed in endemic countries, and to highlight the risk of introduction of viral diseases previously absent in Morocco. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study involving 51 travelers who stayed in Zika virus endemic countries (Angola and Guinea-Bissau) for at least 6 months in 2024. The travelers benefited from serological tests for anti-Zika virus antibodies of the IgG and IgM type using the chemiluminescence technique by the VirClia machine. Results: The travelers are aged between 22 and 47 years old with a male predominance with 49 men against 2 women and a sex ratio of 1/24.5. Among the 51 travelers, 3 are séropositive with a general seroprevalence of 5.8%. THE 3 séropositive travelers are male and have stayed in cote d ivoire. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of Zika virus in Moroccan travelers is important to highlight the current status of this virus in Morocco and prevent its emergence. This should push for investment in vector control strategies, eradication of mosquito breeding sites, targeted spraying of insecticides and awareness of travelers to prevent future epidemics, and encourage vaccination as soon as it is available.