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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 107 over the past 7 days, while the total number of confirmed microcephaly cases has risen by 62.
Upon further investigation, another 190 have been discarded as not meeting the criteria for microcephaly, leaving the number still under investigation at 3017.
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.
Registration Date: 07/06/2016 17:06:18 the amended 07/06/2016 17:06:39 theSince the beginning of the investigation, in October 2015, 7,830 suspected cases were reported. They were disposed of 3,262 cases and 3,017 remain under investigation.REPORT CARD
The Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday (07), the new microcephaly numbers. They are confirmed 1,551 cases of microcephaly and other nervous system disorders, suggestive of congenital infection throughout the country. The report gathers information sent weekly by state health departments related to week 22 of this year, which runs through June 4.
A total of 7,830 suspected cases reported since the beginning of the investigation, in October 2015, and 3,017 remain under investigation. Other 3,262 were discarded because of normal tests, or because they have microcephaly and malformations or confirmed because no infectious or do not meet the case definition.
Of the total confirmed cases, 224 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 1,551 confirmed cases in Brazil occurred in 556 municipalities located in 25 Brazilian states and the Federal District. There is no confirmation register only in the state of Acre.
In relation to deaths in the same period, there were 310 suspected deaths of microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after birth or during pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth) in the country. Of these, 69 were confirmed to microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system. Other 197 remain under investigation and 44 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, and the 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, with the elimination of breeding sites, and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, keeping doors and closed or screened windows, wear pants and long sleeved shirts and use allowed repellents for pregnant women.
(Continue . . .)
