News Health & Medicine

Zika hides out in body’s hard-to-reach spots

In rhesus monkeys, virus detected in cerebrospinal fluid, lymph nodes long after infection

Zika virus

HIDE AND SEEK  Zika virus (red) remains in the central nervous system much longer than it does in the bloodstream, which could help explain its effects on the brain.

Cynthia Goldsmith/CDC

By Laurel Hamers

- More than 2 years ago

Zika virus plays hard to get.  

Weeks after the virus disappears from the bloodstream, it still lingers in the lymph nodes and the central nervous system of rhesus monkeys, researchers report online April 27 in Cell.