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CDC now reporting Zika-affected pregnancy, birth outcomes
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The CDC will now provide weekly updates as to how many infants born with defects and pregnancy losses linked to Zika virus infection occur within the United States, according to a recent statement.
As of June 9, there have been three infants born with defects and three pregnancy losses related to Zika. In the coming weeks, the data also will include poor outcomes in the U.S. territories.
The CDC announced that it is tracking poor pregnancy and birth outcomes to better understand the impact of Zika virus among pregnant women.
Poor Zika-related pregnancy and birth outcomes that are being tracked include microcephaly, calcium deposits in the brain, excess fluid in the brain cavities and surrounding the brain, absent or poorly formed brain structures, abnormal eye development, and other possible brain damage issues affecting the nerves, muscles and bones, such as clubfoot or inflexible joints. The CDC stated that the information will allow for appropriate planning at the federal, tribal, state and local levels for services needed to support pregnant women with Zika virus infection and their families.
For privacy reasons, the agency is not reporting individual state, tribal, territorial or jurisdictional level data.
Last month, the CDC also began reporting the total number of pregnant women with any detected Zika virus infection, as opposed to only those with symptoms and pregnancy complications. To date, there are 234 pregnant women within the United States and 189 pregnant women in U.S. territories with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection.
For more information: Outcomes of Pregnancies with Laboratory Evidence of Possible Zika Virus Infection in the United States, 2016