Learning More About Microcephaly and Zika Virus in Brazil

Preliminary case-control data strongly link microcephaly with Zika infection, but diagnostic and risk-estimation challenges remain.

An increase in microcephaly cases in Brazil was detected in August 2015, leading that country's Ministry of Health to declare a national public health emergency by November. To study the association between microcephaly and Zika virus infection during pregnancy, researchers conducted a case-control study in eight public hospitals in Recife, Brazil, a hotspot of the epidemic, from January 15 to May 2, 2016. They prospectively recruited 32 newborn cases with microcephaly and matched them with 62 controls (neonates without microcephaly or other major birth defects) by area of residence and expected delivery date.

Serum from cases and controls (and cerebrospinal fluid from cases) was tested for Zika virus–specific immunoglobulin M antibody and w…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Learning More About Microcephaly and Zika Virus in Brazil

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Reviewing Author