#11,081
The Brazilian MOH's weekly report card on their microcephalic surveillance has been released, and it indicates that 269 new suspected cases have been added since last week's report.
The number under investigation increases only by 115, however, as over the past week 96 cases were discarded and 58 cases were confirmed.
Out of 1687 cases already investigated, 1046 (62%) have been discarded as not meeting the requirements for microcephaly.
While the accuracy of prior surveillance and reporting on microcephaly in Brazil (< 200 year) has been disputed, the numbers reported over the past 6 months - even after more than half are discounted - are still alarmingly elevated.
(translated)
Registration Date: 03/01/2016 19:03:45 the amended 03/01/2016 19:03:30 the REPORTThey are being investigated all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system, including the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections
The Ministry of Health and the states investigating 4,222 suspected cases of microcephaly across the country. This represents 71.5% of reported cases. The new report released on Tuesday (1st) also points to 1,046 notifications have been discarded and 641 confirmed for microcephaly and other nervous system disorders, suggestive of congenital infection. In all, 5,909 suspected cases of microcephaly were recorded until 27 February.
The 641 confirmed cases occurred in 250 municipalities located in 15 Brazilian states: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Pará, Rondônia, Goiás, Mato Grosso South and Rio Grande do Sul. Already 1,046 cases were discarded because of normal examinations or submit microcefalias and / or changes in the central nervous system by an infectious causes.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Health is investigating all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system, informed by the states and the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections. Microcephaly can be caused by various infectious agents beyond Zika as Syphilis, Toxoplasmosis, Other Infectious Agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Viral.
According to the report, the 5,909 cases reported since the beginning of the investigation on 22 October last year - were recorded in 1,143 municipalities in 25 Brazilian states. The Northeast region has 81% of reported cases, and Pernambuco continues with the greatest number of cases that remain under investigation (1672), followed by the states of Bahia (817), Paraíba (810), Rio Grande do Norte (383), Ceará (352), Rio de Janeiro (261), Alagoas (222), Sergipe (192) and Maranhao (192).
In all, 139 deaths were reported by microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after birth (stillbirth) or during pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth). Of these, 31 were confirmed to microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system. Other research continue 96 and 12 have been discarded.
Of the total confirmed cases of microcephaly, 82 were reported by specific laboratory criteria for Zika virus. However, the Ministry of Health points out that this figure does not represent adequately the total number of cases related to the virus. The folder considers that there was infection Zika most of the mothers who had babies, whose final diagnosis was microcephaly.
To date, are with indigenous circulation of Zika virus 22 Brazilian states: Goiás, Minas Gerais, Federal District, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná.
ORIENTATION - The Ministry of Health advises pregnant women to adopt measures to reduce the presence of Aedes aegypti, with the elimination of breeding sites , and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, keeping doors and closed or screened windows, wear pants and shirt sleeve and use repellents allowed for pregnant women.
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