Zika infections confirmed in 9 pregnant women in US — CDC

All got the virus overseas. But the question of whether the infection in pregnant women is connected to brain defects in their babies has remained open. “The U.S. obstetrics community needs to prepare accordingly”.

The WHO declaration follows a recent surge in Brazil of babies born with microcephaly – a birth defect caused by abnormal or arrested brain growth in the fetus – that coincides with an increase in Zika virus infections.

The Zika virus is epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. The CDC says it’s not clear if contracting Zika during the first trimester led to the miscarriages or the microcephaly case.

Two of the women miscarried, and two elected to terminate their pregnancies. Two women had abortions and two are continuing without reported complications. Two of those babies were born healthy, while the third has severe microcephaly.

An Argentine woman has contracted Zika without having left the country, suggesting the virus was sexually transmitted, a health official in Cordoba province said on Friday, bringing to nine the number of cases reported nationwide, APA reports quoting Reuters. Last month, the CDC advised pregnant women to avoid traveling to those destinations. In all, it tested specimens from 257 pregnant women from August 1 to February 10. They are recommended to either use condoms, every time, or do not have sex during pregnancy. Current recommendations, based on CDC’s guidance for any area with active Zika transmission, include these:Consider not going to the Olympics.

Both developed symptoms and tested positive for Zika, whose transmission through sex has been considered rare. Officials also have made Zika a reportable disease. Research is also underway into a possible link between Zika and a paralyzing condition in adults called Guillain-Barre.

A second report published Friday by the CDC focused on 14 instances of suspected sexual transmission among women who had sexual contact with a male who had travelled to an area of Zika virus transmission. Two cases have been confirmed, four more are probable and two have been dropped, the report said. The yellow-fever mosquito and Asian tiger mosquito known to spread Zika are not native to San Diego, county health officials said.

Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department’s medical director, said none of the three women became ill enough to need a hospital.