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Brazil has released their weekly Microcephaly report card and it shows the
number of suspected cases under investigation has increased by 103 over the past 7 days, while the total number of confirmed microcephaly cases has risen by 35.
Upon further investigation, another 108 have been discarded as not meeting the criteria for microcephaly, leaving the number still under investigation at 3007.
While microcephaly is the most visibly apparent congenital defect linked to Zika, we've been warned by CDC, NIH, and WHO for months that maternal Zika infection is apt to lead to a variety of less obvious neurological deficits in developing fetuses.
An outcome which is discussed in a recent Lancet report entitled `Zika: neurological and ocular findings in infant without microcephaly'.All of which means it may be months or even years before we know the full extent of fetal injury due to Zika, or how many of these `discarded' cases are destined to experience other Zika related sequelae.
This (translated) report from the Brazilian MOH.
REPORT CARD
Ministry of Health confirmed 1,616 cases of microcephaly nationwide
The report gathers information sent weekly by state health departments until 18 June. Since the beginning of the investigation, 8,049 suspected cases were reported
The Ministry of Health announced, on Wednesday (22), microcephaly new data. Until 18 June, it was confirmed 1,616 cases of microcephaly and other nervous system disorders, suggestive of congenital infection throughout the country. Since the beginning of the investigation, in October last year, 8,039 suspected cases were reported to the Ministry of Health.
Of the total reported, 3,416 cases were discarded because of normal tests, or because they have microcephaly or malformations confirmed because noninfectious. They were also discarded by do not meet the case definition. Other 3007 remain under investigation. Of the total confirmed cases, 233 were confirmed by specific laboratory criteria for Zika virus.
The Ministry of Health, however, 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 with a final diagnosis of microcephaly. The 1,616 confirmed cases in Brazil occurred in 576 municipalities located in all Brazilian states and the Federal District.
The mortality rate in the same period, there were 324 suspected deaths of microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after childbirth or during pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth) in the country. This represents 4% of reported cases. Of these, 86 were confirmed to microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system. Other 182 remain under investigation and 56 were discarded.
The Ministry of Health says it is investigating all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system informed by the states, as well as possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections.
Microcephaly may be caused by , various infectious agents beyond Zika as Syphilis, Toxoplasmosis, Other Infectious Agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Viral. The folder guides pregnant women adopt measures to reduce the presence of Aedes aegypti, the elimination of breeding, and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, keeping doors and windows closed or screened, wear pants and long sleeved shirts and use repellents allowed to pregnant women.
