Credit PAHO
# 10,759
Although some of this increase may be due to the fact that the nation’s entire healthcare system is on heightened alert to detect and report cases, there seems little doubt that an extraordinary jump in microcephalic birth defects is occurring in Brazil.
In most years, the number of cases of this rare defect reported across Brazil runs in the low triple digits. Over the past two weeks we’ve seen that number jump from 399, to 739, to now 1248 suspected cases.
This jump coincides with the arrival of the Zika Virus last spring (see ECDC: Complications Potentially Linked To The Zika Virus Outbreaks In Brazil & French Polynesia), and there is growing concern that the rapidly spreading Zika virus is to blame.
Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition where the child’s head is smaller in circumference than normal, and is often associated with developmental disorders. It can be caused by congenital disorders, maternal illness, or environmental exposures.
Today the Brazilian MOH has published a new Epidemiological Bulletin with the latest, awful numbers.
Registration Date: 11/30/2015 12:11:51 changed the 11/30/2015 in the 12:11:40
Epidemiological bulletin
Ministry of Health publishes new data microcephaly
Until November 28, 2015, it was reported 1,248 suspected cases of microcephaly, identified in 311 municipalities in 14 Brazilian states, according to the third edition of epidemiological report on microcephaly, released on Monday (30). The government remains making every effort to monitor and investigate, as a priority, the increasing number of cases of microcephaly in the country. The state of Pernambuco has the highest number of cases (646), being the first to identify an increase of microcephaly in your region. The State has the monitoring of the Ministry of Health team since October 22. Next are the states of Paraíba (248), Rio Grande do Norte (79), Sergipe (77), Alagoas (59), Bahia (37), Piauí (36), Ceará (25), Rio de Janeiro (13 ), Tocantins (12) Maranhão (12), Goiás (2), Mato Grosso do Sul (1) and Federal District (1). Among the total cases, seven deaths were reported. A newborn Ceara diagnosed with microcephaly and other congenital malformations through ultrasound, tested positive for zika virus. Five others in Rio Grande do Norte and Piauí are under investigation to determine cause of death.
ZIKA MICROCEPHALY E RATIO - The Ministry of Health confirmed on Saturday (28) the relationship between the Zika virus and microcephaly outbreak in the Northeast. Confirmation was possible from the confirmation of the Evandro Chagas identification of Zika virus presence Institute in blood and newborn tissues that came to death in Ceará.
This is an unprecedented situation in world scientific research. The research on the subject should continue to clarify issues such as: the transmission of the agent; its performance in the human body; infection of the fetus and period of increased vulnerability for pregnant women. On initial analysis, the risk is associated with the first three months of pregnancy. The finding reinforces the Health Ministry's call for a national mobilization to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for the spread of dengue, chikungunya and zika. The success of this measure requires national actions involving the Federal Government, states, municipalities and all of Brazilian society. The time is now to unite efforts to further intensify actions and mobilization. The campaign launched this week warned that the dengue mosquito kills and therefore can not be born. The idea is that all days are used for cleaning and inspection points which can be mosquito breeding. The Sabbath would be like D-Day, the housecleaning. The result Contents of Rapid Assessment for Aedes aegypti (LIRAa) indicates 199 municipalities in dengue outbreak risk, chikungunya and zika, which reinforces the need for an immediate mobilization of all.
