CDC confirms Zika in 9 US pregnancies, Gizodo, 27/2/16.
HERE is a report issued by the CDC yesterday and I assume it's related to the one mentioned in the above story.
Interestingly, it appears to confirm that the brain defects in one of the live births included severe microcephaly and it also suggests that one of the abortions followed medical advice that the foetus suffered from severe brain atrophy amongst other things:
Quote:Earlier today, the CDC said that of the nine cases of US pregnant travelers infected with Zika, one delivered a child with birth defects, though the exact details were not disclosed. In the other cases, two miscarried, two opted for abortions, and three resulted in live births. The two current pregnancies are continuing without known complications. The CDC is also investigating ten other possible cases.
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“We did not expect to see these brain abnormalities in this small case series of US pregnant travelers,” noted the CDC’s Denise Jamieson in a conference call. “So it is unexpected and greater than what we would have expected.”
HERE is a report issued by the CDC yesterday and I assume it's related to the one mentioned in the above story.
Interestingly, it appears to confirm that the brain defects in one of the live births included severe microcephaly and it also suggests that one of the abortions followed medical advice that the foetus suffered from severe brain atrophy amongst other things:
Quote:Patient B. In January 2016, a pregnant woman in her 30s underwent laboratory testing for Zika virus infection. She reported a history of travel to a Zika-affected area at approximately 11–12 weeks’ gestation. One day after returning from travel, she developed fever, eye pain, and myalgia. The next day, she developed a rash. Serologic testing confirmed recent Zika virus infection. At approximately 20 weeks’ gestation, she underwent a fetal ultrasound that suggested absence of the corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly, and brain atrophy; subsequent fetal magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated severe brain atrophy. Amniocentesis was performed, and Zika virus RNA was detected by RT-PCR testing. After discussion with her health care providers, the patient elected to terminate her pregnancy.If there are further cases like these, I'm sure it will become an election issue. The Republicans may use it to advocate an isolationist position. If Trump builds a high enough wall, maybe mosquitos won't fly over it. They would fix on the need to stop infected Mexicans streaming across the border. Governor Le Page has already railed against foreigners bringing in "the Ziki fly". On the other hand, the Democrats will emphasise how much US women will need the help of Planned Parenthood in such stressful times. As Planned Parenthood does a lot of things apart from abortion, it will be an argument that isn't limited to the right to an abortion. But the reported case of an abortion following a diagnosis of severe brain defects may not be an isolated case by then.
Patient C. In late 2015, a woman in her 30s gave birth to an infant at 39 weeks’ gestation. The infant’s head circumference at birth was 27 cm (<3rd percentile), indicating severe microcephaly (http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who_charts.htm). After delivery, an epidemiologic investigation revealed that the woman had resided in Brazil until 12 weeks’ gestation. She reported that she had experienced fever, rash, arthralgia, and headache at 7–8 weeks’ gestation. Evidence of Zika virus infection in the mother was confirmed by serologic testing. Molecular and pathologic evaluation of the placenta demonstrated Zika virus RNA by RT-PCR and IHC, respectively. The infant exhibited hypertonia, difficulty swallowing, and seizures, and computerized tomography scan demonstrated multiple scattered and periventricular brain calcifications. Funduscopic examination revealed a pale optic nerve and mild macular chorioretinitis. Newborn hearing screening was normal. The infant was discharged from the hospital with a gastrostomy feeding tube.