Sciensano is responsible for the epidemiological surveillance of Zika in humans in Belgium. As well as the monitoring of exotic mosquitoes of the Aedes genus through the MEMO+ project.

Zika is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes and caused by the Zika virus. The virus originated in Africa and has since spread to Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands. In May 2015, a major epidemic began in Brazil and the Zika virus has spread across the American continent. With the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) now established in southern Europe, small outbreaks of Zika do occur there (e.g. in France). In Belgium, only imported cases are diagnosed in travellers from regions where the virus circulates.
The Zika virus is transmitted by the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and by the mosquito that also transmits yellow fever (Aedes aegypti). Apart from mosquito bites, the virus can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, through blood transfusions and through sexual contact (the virus can persist in semen).
There is no vaccine against the Zika virus. Prevention is done by avoiding mosquito bites and using a condom during sexual contact. The use of a condom by travellers returning from an area where Zika is present is particularly important if the sexual partner is pregnant and until the end of the pregnancy.