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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 132 in the last reporting period, while the total number of confirmed microcephaly cases has risen by 40.
Upon further investigation, another 212 have been discarded as not meeting the criteria for microcephaly, so the number still under investigation decreases to 3062.
The (translated) weekly report follows:
Registration Date: 27/07/2016 18:07:27 the amended 07/27/2016 18:07:27 the REPORT CARDThe weekly report gathers information submitted by state health departments until 23 July. Other 3,062 cases remain under investigation
New bulletin of the Ministry of Health, released on Wednesday (27), points out that, until July 23, were confirmed 1,749 cases of microcephaly and other nervous system disorders, suggestive of congenital infection. They remain under investigation by the Ministry of Health and the states 3,062 suspected cases of microcephaly across the country.
Since the beginning of the investigation, in October last year, 8,703 cases were reported to the Ministry of Health. Of these, 3,892 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.
Of the total confirmed cases (1,749), 272 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 1,749 confirmed cases in Brazil occurred in 609 municipalities located in all Brazilian states and the Federal District.
In the same period, there were 371 suspected deaths of microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after birth or during pregnancy (miscarriage or stillbirth) in the country. This represents 4.3% of the total reported cases. Of these, 106 were confirmed to microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system. Another 200 are still under investigation and 65 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 can 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.
