The Zika virus is a single-stranded RNA virus in the Flaviviridae family. A near-atomic level visualization of Zika finds it to be most similar to the dengue virus. There is a difference in one surface protein, glycoprotein-180, that helps flaviviruses attach to human cells. This may explain how the Zika virus attacks nerve cells. This glycoprotein could further explain the association with Guillain-Barre syndrome and also with birth defects, such as microcephaly.
Figure 19. Public health domain. (2016). Image #20541. Digitally-colorized transmission electron microscopic image of Zika virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae, grown in LLC-MK2 culture cells. Virus particles, here colored blue, are 40 nm in diameter, with an outer envelope, and an inner dense core. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=20541
