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grey_whiskers:" How long does Zika remain in the system?
Is it chronic and subject to unpredictable flare-ups, like herpes?
If so, given its predilection for fetal neuronal tissue, it might lead to a slew of microcephalic babies down the road..."

Length of duration of Zika infection is yet unknown.
SO is the question of whether it remains chronic is also unknown. I would expect that virologists are looking into this matter right now.
The "fetal neuronal tissue, it might lead to a slew of microcephalic babies down the road..." could present a national financial disaster.
Zika has been known to exist for quite some time in Africa, and elsewhere without microcephalic babies
The fact that microcephalic babies have occurred only in the Brazilian Zika infestation, and not in the adjoining country of Columbia suggests a variant genetic aberration.
Viri are known to be genetically simplistic RNA, and are subject to mutation, and become less virulent as they age and continue to mutate.
It may be that Microcephalic babies could be limited to the Brazilian variant since Zika has not produced these symptoms in the past.