The Zika outbreak may have prompted a drop in the number of live births in Rio de Janeiro. Researchers believe that very early miscarriages and pregnancy avoidance may be to blame.
Zika may cause miscarriages, thin brain tissue in babies carried to term
Researchers found that the Zika virus appears to create disorganization in the cellular layers of the placenta that keep toxins, bacteria and viruses from crossing, potentially allowing the virus to penetrate the fetus.
A year on, mothers of Brazil’s zika babies struggle
Thousands of Brazilian parents are struggling as they learn to care for brain-damaged babies. The lack of child disability payments, child brain specialists and psychological support are some of the hardships families face.
PAHO says Zika spread rapidly in 2016
48 countries and territories in the Americas reported over 532,000 suspected Zika cases, including 175,063 confirmed cases; 22 countries and territories reported 2,439 cases of congenital Zika syndrome; and 5 countries reported sexually transmitted Zika cases.
Half of adult women in Brazil put off pregnancy by Zika virus – survey
More than half of the 2,000 adult women of reproductive age who participated in a survey in Brazil tried to avoid becoming pregnant as a result of the Zika epidemic. To date, there have been 1,845 confirmed cases and 7,246 suspected cases of congenital Zika syndrome.
Study Offers Clues To Risk Of Zika Birth Defects In The U.S.
A US study involving 442 completed pregnancies by women exposed to the Zika virus shows that 6% resulted in Zika-linked defects in the fetus or baby with 4% having microcephaly, stressing the point that Zika poses a major risk despite the geography.
Colombia reports huge jump in babies harmed by Zika
476 cases of microcephaly have been identified in Colombia over the last 11 months. 147 had evidence of Zika virus infection out of the 306 that were tested.
Zika is no Longer a Global Emergency, W.H.O Says
Despite committee members emphasizing that the Zika crisis still continues, the W.H.O. declared an end to its global health emergency over Zika, noting that “…Zika is here to stay and the W.H.O. response is here to stay.” Zika is now shown to be a dangerous-mosquito borne disease, like malaria and yellow fever, and should be viewed […]
Geographic Variability in Zika-Related Birth Defects Baffles Scientists
Scientists are wondering why the virus catastrophically affects some fetuses but not others. Many theories abound and several factors could be at play. Without more studies, the public is left with theory and speculation.
‘Zika can break out anywhere,’ warns Brazilian doctor
Obstetrician Adriana Melo the first person to make the connection between an outbreak of Zika in Brazil and a surge in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, said the world has not done enough to understand and fight this “neglected” disease. She urged wealthy countries to wake up to recent findings that Zika, which is […]
