Ministry of Health confirms 404 cases of microcephaly

The Ministry of Health confirmed there are 404 cases of microcephaly or other central nervous system disorders in Brazil, out of which 17 are related to Zika virus. A total of 709 suspected cases have been ruled out. The ministry and the state health departments are still investigating 3,670 potential cases of the condition across the country. The figure applies to cases reported by January 30.

The ministry said 76 babies have been reported to have died after birth or during pregnancy. Fifteen of these deaths were investigated and confirmed for microcephaly or other central nervous system conditions, and Zika virus was found in fetal tissue in five of them. There are another 56 cases under investigation, and five cases have been ruled out for microcephaly.

Microcephaly can have various infectious causes other than Zika, including syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and viral herpes. “The ministry is investigating all cases of microcephaly and other disorders of the central nervous system reported by the states and their possible relationship with Zika virus and other congenital infections,” the ministry update read.

According to the ministry, the 404 confirmed cases were reported in 156 municipalities in nine states: Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul. Occurrences are mainly concentrated in municipalities of the Northeast region (98% of the municipalities with confirmed cases), mostly in the states of Pernambuco (56 municipalities), Rio Grande do Norte (31), Paraíba (24) and Bahia (23).

The Ministry of Health advises pregnant women to protect themselves from exposure to Zika-bearing mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, by keeping doors and windows closed or screened, wearing pants and long-sleeved tops, and wearing mosquito repellents approved for use by pregnant women. They are also advised to take steps to reduce the presence of mosquitoes in their surroundings, with the elimination of potential insect breeding sites.

Translated by Mayra Borges