This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Zika presence in the US raises concern about congenital infections
NEW YORK – Pediatricians should continue to monitor children born to mothers infected with Zika virus due to an increased risk for conditions associated with congenital infections, according to a presentation at the 2016 Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium.
Until last year, there were no cases of the Zika virus in the western hemisphere; the virus was only prevalent in areas of Africa and hot, humid locations in the eastern hemisphere. However, the 2015 strain outbreak in Brazil affected many pregnant women native to the country and travelers alike. There have been over 4,000 traveler-related cases, and the virus rapidly spread to Puerto Rico — where 25% of the population is expected to have Zika by the end of this year — and South Florida. The CDC believes the Miami-Dade area is now endemic due to ongoing Zika transmission through mosquitoes or sex (139 locally transmitted cases), and has the potential to affect many women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
It is necessary to follow these women closely throughout their pregnancies because their infants’ odds of having a congenital infection are significantly increased, Joseph A. Bocchini Jr., MD, FAAP, said in a presentation.
“Most importantly for pediatricians, this virus is going to be an important cause of many congenital conditions, including Guillain-Barré and microcephaly, and this virus has the potential to become endemic in a number of areas,” Bocchini said. “Congenital infection with Zika can be severe, there is a congenital infection syndrome now that includes microcephaly, severe brain abnormalities, neuromuscular abnormalities, eye changes, arthrogryposis and club foot.”
In addition to mosquito and sexual transmission, Zika can be transmitted through blood transfusions according to one positive case last year that occurred in Brazil, Bocchini said. “The Zika virus is present in breast milk and saliva, but currently they are not reported as modes of transmission,” he said.
Bocchini noted that there are many questions still left to be answered about the Zika virus, including transmission and reasons why it has a role in the development of congenital diseases. It is important that births are recorded in registries and pregnant women receive prenatal care so clinicians can learn more about this flavivirus, how to treat the outcomes and how to prevent oncoming infections.
“There are a number of different vaccines that are being studied, and we hope within the next year to have additional information about outcomes with an effective vaccine to prevent infections with this organism,” Bocchini told Infectious Diseases in Children. “We don’t know what is going to happen with Zika in the year-to-year yet with this upcoming mosquito season and we will learn more in those countries where mosquito season is more extended, and then next year within the U.S. we’ll learn more about what other areas may become involved.” – by Kate Sherrer
Reference:
Bocchini JA, et al. “Zika’s Invasion of the Western Hemisphere.” Presented at: IDC NY; Nov. 19-20, 2016; New York.
Disclosure: Bocchini reports no relevant financial disclosures.