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Zika threat to babies may be greater than thought after virus found in stillborn girl Zika threat to babies may be greater than thought after virus found in stillborn girl
(6 months later)
Doctors fear that the Zika virus may pose a greater threat to unborn babies than previously thought, after tests on a stillborn girl in Brazil confirmed that she had the infection.Doctors fear that the Zika virus may pose a greater threat to unborn babies than previously thought, after tests on a stillborn girl in Brazil confirmed that she had the infection.
The baby girl was delivered at 32 weeks after she died in the womb from a devastating combination of developmental problems that left her with a small head, almost no brain tissue and severe swelling throughout her body.The baby girl was delivered at 32 weeks after she died in the womb from a devastating combination of developmental problems that left her with a small head, almost no brain tissue and severe swelling throughout her body.
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The virus, which has swept through the Americas, has already been linked to microcephaly, a condition that leaves children with small skulls, but not to more widespread abnormalities. More than 4,500 microcephaly cases have been reported to Brazilian health authorities since the mosquito-borne virus began to spread through the country early last year.The virus, which has swept through the Americas, has already been linked to microcephaly, a condition that leaves children with small skulls, but not to more widespread abnormalities. More than 4,500 microcephaly cases have been reported to Brazilian health authorities since the mosquito-borne virus began to spread through the country early last year.
The mother of the child, a 20-year-old Brazilian, was referred to doctors after an ultrasound scan at 18 weeks found that her baby had stopped growing normally. Follow-up examinations in her second and third trimesters revealed the full extent of the baby’s defects. She was delivered weighing only 2lbs.The mother of the child, a 20-year-old Brazilian, was referred to doctors after an ultrasound scan at 18 weeks found that her baby had stopped growing normally. Follow-up examinations in her second and third trimesters revealed the full extent of the baby’s defects. She was delivered weighing only 2lbs.
Albert Ko, an epidemiologist at Yale University and leader of the investigating team, said the case served as “an alert to clinicians” that the virus may affect not only the eyes and central nervous systems of unborn babies, but may also cause dangerous swelling and death in the womb.Albert Ko, an epidemiologist at Yale University and leader of the investigating team, said the case served as “an alert to clinicians” that the virus may affect not only the eyes and central nervous systems of unborn babies, but may also cause dangerous swelling and death in the womb.
“These findings raise concerns that the virus may cause severe damage to foetuses leading to stillbirths and may be associated with effects other than those seen in the central nervous system,” he said. Further work will be needed to understand whether the stillbirth was an isolated case, and whether the virus can cause the accumulation of fluids that led to such severe swelling in the child.“These findings raise concerns that the virus may cause severe damage to foetuses leading to stillbirths and may be associated with effects other than those seen in the central nervous system,” he said. Further work will be needed to understand whether the stillbirth was an isolated case, and whether the virus can cause the accumulation of fluids that led to such severe swelling in the child.
“Given the recent spread of the virus, systematic investigation of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths may be warranted to evaluate the risk,” Ko and his colleagues write in the journal Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases.“Given the recent spread of the virus, systematic investigation of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths may be warranted to evaluate the risk,” Ko and his colleagues write in the journal Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Related: WHO paves way for use of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat Zika
The girl’s mother was referred to doctors after a large outbreak of Zika virus in the coastal city of Salvador. Before and during pregnancy, she did not report any of the usual symptoms of Zika infection, such as rash, fever and aches. But Ko points out that nearly three quarters of Zika infections do not produce symptoms, so many infections go undetected.The girl’s mother was referred to doctors after a large outbreak of Zika virus in the coastal city of Salvador. Before and during pregnancy, she did not report any of the usual symptoms of Zika infection, such as rash, fever and aches. But Ko points out that nearly three quarters of Zika infections do not produce symptoms, so many infections go undetected.
After inducing the birth, doctors analysed tissues from the baby girl and confirmed the presence of the virus. The strain is believed to be the one that is currently spreading through the region.After inducing the birth, doctors analysed tissues from the baby girl and confirmed the presence of the virus. The strain is believed to be the one that is currently spreading through the region.
The alert comes a month after senior doctors warned that the Zika virus could pose a major threat to public health. Speaking ahead of an emergency meeting of the World Health Organisation, convened to decide whether the outbreak should be rated as a global health crisis, Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, said: “It is a silent infection in a group of highly vulnerable individuals – pregnant women – that is associated with a horrible outcome for their babies.”The alert comes a month after senior doctors warned that the Zika virus could pose a major threat to public health. Speaking ahead of an emergency meeting of the World Health Organisation, convened to decide whether the outbreak should be rated as a global health crisis, Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, said: “It is a silent infection in a group of highly vulnerable individuals – pregnant women – that is associated with a horrible outcome for their babies.”