Microcephaly: 88 confirmed cases are related to Zika virus

Health Agency - The Ministry of Health is investigating 4,231 suspected cases of microcephaly and other nervous system disorders, suggestive of congenital infection. Of the cases already analyzed, 745 were confirmed and 1,182 discarded. Since the beginning of the investigation, 6,158 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported. The data from the epidemiological report of the Ministry of Health are sent weekly by the state health secretariats and were closed on Saturday, March 5.

The 745 confirmed cases occurred in 282 municipalities, located in 18 units of the federation: Alagoas, Brazil, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Pará, Rondônia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul. cases were classified as having normal tests, or presenting microcephaly and / or central nervous system changes due to non-infectious causes.

The 6,158 cases reported since the beginning of the investigations are distributed in 1,179 municipalities, from all regions of Brazil. parents. The majority was registered in the Northeast (4,827 cases, corresponding to 80%), and the State of Pernambuco is the federal unit with the highest number of cases still being investigated (1,214). Then there are Bahia (609), Paraíba (447), Rio de Janeiro (289), Rio Grande do Norte (278) and Ceará (252).

As of 5 March, 157 suspicious deaths of microcephaly and / or alteration of the central nervous system after childbirth or during pregnancy (abortion or stillbirth). Of these, 37 were confirmed for microcephaly and / or central nervous system alteration. Another 102 were still under investigation and 18 were discarded.

Of the total cases of microcephaly confirmed, 88 had a positive result for Zika. In these cases, specific laboratory criteria for the Zika virus were used. However, the Ministry of Health points out that this figure does not adequately represent the total number of cases related to the virus. That is, the folder considers that there was infection by Zika in the majority of the mothers who had babies with a final diagnosis of microcephaly.

It should be clarified that the Ministry of Health is investigating all cases of microcephaly and other central nervous system disorders, informed by the states, and the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections. Microcephaly may be caused by a number of infectious agents other than zika, such as syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, viral herpes, other infectious agents.

To date, they have signaled to the Ministry of Health the autochthonous circulation of Zika virus 22 the state of Paraná, state of Bahia, state of Espírito Santo, state of Paraná, state of Paraná, state of Paraná, state of Paraná, state of Paraná, state of Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná.

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