Zika Virus Tied to Potential Brain Damage in Newborns

The Brazilian authorities are investigating thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly in babies born to mothers infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, while they were pregnant.

Zika is a virus that is transmitted by the same Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue and chikungunya and infected people have clinical symptoms similar to those illnesses and it is possible that some suspected cases of dengue could be Zika.

Scientists at the Ministry of Health (Brasilia, Brazil) have been investigating potential links between Zika virus infection in pregnancy and fetal microcephaly since October 2015, when they reported an unusual surge in cases of microcephaly in newborns following a Zika virus outbreak in the northeastern states. Up to December 12, 2015, the Brazilian ministry had been notified of 2,401 suspected cases of microcephaly linked to Zika virus infection in pregnancy. Of these, 2,165 are under investigation, 134 have been confirmed and 102 have been discarded.

The most common symptoms of Zika infection are mild fever, rash, headache, joint pain and non-purulent conjunctivitis, which is red eye with no pus. One out of four people may not develop symptoms, but those who do, experience them from two to seven days. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. A baby born with microcephaly has a smaller-than-normal head, caused by abnormal brain growth or because the brain stops growing. The brain fails to grow as the infant develops, and the condition often results in serious neurological and development problems and sometimes early death.

By December 22, 2015, a team at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB) at the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) had already developed cultures for growing Zika in cells, a necessary first step for experiments and for obtaining diagnoses via DNA. Within a month, they expect to have a blood test for diagnosing Zika that is cheaper and easier than a DNA test. Angela Rocha, MD a pediatric infectologist, said, “It's a very personal decision, but at this moment of uncertainty, if families can put off their pregnancy plans, that's what we're recommending."

Related Links:
Brazilian Ministry of Health
University of São Paulo