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Tag: microcephaly

  • Zika Virus May Cause More Birth Defects Than Microcephaly, According To New Study

    Zika virus horror stories have already started pouring out of South America and the Caribbean.

    Many women who were pregnant when infected with the Zika virus began giving birth to babies with microcephaly, or smaller than usual heads. The smaller heads were an indication that brain development was stalled.

    The rash of microcephaly reports prompted studies to prove a link between the Zika virus and the babies born with smaller heads.

    However, in the case of one of these recent studies, there were many more birth defects that started showing up in patients with the Zika virus involved with the study.

    In the study, 88 otherwise healthy pregnant women who reported symptoms related to the Zika virus between September and February were tested. Of the 88 women, 72 were actively infected with the virus.

    Of those 72 infected women, 42 of them, and all of the non-infected ones, had fetal ultrasound exams. Of the 42 infected, abnormalities were found in 12. That comes out to 29 percent.

    Of the non-infected women who had ultrasounds, zero had abnormalities.

    Abnormalities found in the Zika virus-infected fetuses included problems with growth, like microcephaly and smaller limbs, problems with the placenta and lesions in the brain or spine.

    The Zika virus study co-author Dr. Karin Nielsen-Saines, a professor of clinical pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said of the findings, “Zika definitely causes the problems. We think microcephaly is only the tip of the iceberg.”

    Out of the 12 Zika virus-infected babies, two died in utero and six live births have occurred so far. Only one of the live babies has microcephaly.

    However, two of the infected babies were born too small for gestational age and one of those had lesions in the eyes, which could indicate vision problems and possible blindness.

    Two of the Zika virus-infected babies had normal ultrasounds and, so far, appear healthy. One infected baby was delivered by emergency C-section due to a severe lack of amniotic fluid. That baby seemed like it would have difficulties after birth, but soon stabilized and is now healthy.

    Dr. Christopher M. Zahn of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said of the Zika virus study, “Unfortunately, we still have many unanswered questions.”

    He added that the study does, however, provide “additional evidence suggesting an association between Zika virus and negative obstetrical outcomes, including birth defects and fetal demise.”

    What do you think about this new Zika virus study and its worrisome findings?

  • Zika Virus: World Health Organization Just Weeks Away from Test, Vaccine Still at Least 18 Months Away

    The Zika virus has spread rapidly, with several cases now reported in the United States. The most dangerous to unborn babies, the Zika virus has instilled fear in pregnant women in countries affected by the disease, as well as in those who may need to travel to such countries.

    According to a report from the New York Times, the World Health Organization claims to be just weeks away from a test to determine whether someone has contracted the Zika virus. They are still at least 18 months away from a vaccine that can prevent it, however.

    On February 1, the W.H.O. declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency. This is only the fourth time ever the organization has raised this alert. The major concerns of the Zika virus are its suspected links to two neurological disorders–microcephaly, where babies are born with smaller than normal heads and, in most cases brain damage–and Guillain-Barré syndrome, an illness in which the immune system attacks part of the nervous system, causing paralysis that can last for weeks.

    Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny is the W.H.O. assistant director general for health systems and innovation. She spoke recently about the Zika virus at a news conference in Geneva.

    “It is important to point out, however, that none of these tests have been independently validated and none have regulatory approval,” she said. She added, however, that “we are talking weeks, not years,” for the first commercial and independently validated tests to become available.

    “In spite of this encouraging landscape, vaccines are at least 18 months away from large-scale trials,” she added.

    Aside from the aforementioned risks from the Zika virus, it causes no lasting harm. Those afflicted with the Zika virus typically experience fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes.

  • Zika Virus: 36 People in U.S. Diagnosed, Four of Them Pregnant Women

    The Zika virus has made its way to the United States, with 36 people currently diagnosed with the disease. Four of the 36 are pregnant women, with the risk factor being the highest for them.

    ABC News reports that the cases of Zika virus in the U.S. are spread throughout 11 states and Washington. D.C. All those infected contracted Zika virus outside of the U.S.

    A woman in Hawaii–not counted among the 36 aforementioned sufferers of Zika virus–is believed to have had the disease. Her baby was recently born with microcephaly. This is characterized by an abnormally small head and brain, which typically leads to developmental delays. This birth defect has been associated with Zika virus in Brazil, where more than 4,000 children have been diagnosed with the condition.

    Researchers believe the Zika virus came to the Western Hemisphere from French Polynesia. It was first confirmed in Brazil in May.

    Dr. Peter Armbruster is a professor of biology at Georgetown University.

    “It is very likely an infected traveler from French Polynesia that traveled to Brazil was likely the source of the Brazilian invasion,” he tells ABC News. “Whether it is someone associated with the [World Cup], we do not know for sure.”

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging pregnant women not to travel to countries where the Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Those countries include Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde, and Samoa.

  • Zika Virus Found in 20 Latin American Countries and Samoa

    The Zika virus, which may cause a birth defect called microcephaly, has been found in 20 Latin American countries as well as the south Paciific country of Samoa. Carried by mosquitoes, doctors and researchers fear it will spread even further.

    NBC News reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reiterated its warning on Friday that pregnant women shouldn’t travel to any of the countries where the Zika virus has spread.

    A team of Brazilian researchers who studied the Zika virus say 35 babies whose mothers were diagnosed with the virus were born with microcephaly. Microcephaly causes underdeveloped brains and heads.

    There is much left to learn about the Zika virus, but in the meantime pregnant women should definitely heed the CDC’s warning.

    Those countries where people have test positive for the Zika virus are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, and Venezuela. Samoa, in the south Pacific, has just recently reported Zika for the first time.

    Are you pregnant? Have you discussed the Zika virus with your obstetrician?