The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that has raged in South America and other regions for several months. Pregnant women, however, are likely to pass the virus onto their babies, potentially causing microencephaly-a birth defect causing babies to be born with an abnormally small head, and often, brain damage.
Advertisement
The virus-now present in many countries and regions in Central and South America and the Caribbean-can cause a serious birth defect, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Earlier this week, the CDC reported that health officials in the USA have so far confirmed 12 cases of Zika, in Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Texas. The disorder which can leave a person on life-support starts with weakness of muscles that begins with legs and gradually spreads to arms and face.
The syndrome has also been reported in patients with probable Zika virus infection in French Polynesia and Brazil, the CDC says. Researchers caution that more studies are needed to prove the link between Zika and Guillain-Barre.
But because there is no treatment or vaccine – and the consequences for unborn babies so great – health authorities in Colombia and El Salvador have advised women not to become pregnant. However, one challenge for public health officials is that 80 percent of people infected with Zika are asymptomatic.
Forty-nine babies with suspected microcephaly have died, Brazil’s health ministry says. Eight additional countries were added to the CDC’s list of countries for pregnant women to avoid on Friday.
The Fiocruz biomedical center in Curitiba announced it had found Zika in the placenta of a woman who had a miscarriage, proving the virus can reach the foetus. Health officials there are also investigating about 4,000 cases where the virus might have caused microcephaly in newborns.
There is no overall figure for the number of cases detected.
Officials said in a statement that one of the three patients is fully recovered and the two others are recovering without complications.
He noted that the Rio Games will take place during the winter months of August and September when the dryer, cooler climate significantly reduces the presence of mosquitoes.
Advertisement
The CDC recommends pregnant women consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.
