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DISCLAIMER This paper was submitted to the Bulletin of the World Health Organization and was posted to the Zika open site, according to the protocol for public health emergencies for international concern as described in Christopher Dye et al. (http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.170860)
The information herein is available for unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited as indicated by the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Intergovernmental Organizations licence (CC BY IGO 3.0). RECOMMENDED CITATION Cunha AJLA, Magalh?es-Barbosa MC, Lima-Setta F, Prata-Barbosa A.
Evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil: 2015-2016.
[Submitted]. Bull World Health Organ E-pub: 16 Mar 2016.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.173583 Evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil: 2015-2016. Antonio JLA Cunha,a Maria Clara Magalh?es-Barbosa,b Fernanda Lima-Settab & Arnaldo Prata-Barbosab a Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Edif?cio do Centro de Ci?ncias da Sa?de, Bloco K, 2? andar, Cidade Universit?ria, Ilha do Fund?o, 21.941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil b Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Brazil Correspondence to Antonio Cunha (email: antonioledo@yahoo.com.br). (Submitted: 16 March 2016 ? Published online: 16 March 2016)
Abstract
Objective To describe the evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil in 2015-2016. Methods Analysis of secondary epidemiological data, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, to monitor the epidemic by Zika virus. Cases of microcephaly classified as notified, confirmed, excluded, under investigation, and Zika virusassociated were studied, as well as their temporal evolution. The data are presented in absolute numbers, percentages and prevalence rates. The excluded to confirmed ratio, the increment rate and the percentage of confirmed cases were calculated.
Findings
Until March 2016, the number of cases of microcephaly and/or abnormalities of the central nervous system being investigated in Brazil (n=4231) was almost 6 times the number of confirmed cases (n=745); these 745 were approximately one-third of those who concluded the investigation (confirmed+excluded=1927). The number of confirmed cases associated to Zika virus was small (n=88). Most of the notified and confirmed cases occurred in the northeastern region, where the state of Pernambuco, Para?ba and Rio Grande do Norte showed the largest prevalence. A marked increase in the notified cases (58.2%), confirmed cases (223.9%), and Zika virus associated cases (> 14x) occurred in 2016.
Conclusions
The epidemic of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities associated with the Zika virus in Brazil is not declining and control measures should be intensified. In the light of the vast potential for spread of this virus, the knowledge of what occurs in Brazil may contribute to health actions in other places.
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Full text:
The information herein is available for unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited as indicated by the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Intergovernmental Organizations licence (CC BY IGO 3.0). RECOMMENDED CITATION Cunha AJLA, Magalh?es-Barbosa MC, Lima-Setta F, Prata-Barbosa A.
Evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil: 2015-2016.
[Submitted]. Bull World Health Organ E-pub: 16 Mar 2016.
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.173583 Evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil: 2015-2016. Antonio JLA Cunha,a Maria Clara Magalh?es-Barbosa,b Fernanda Lima-Settab & Arnaldo Prata-Barbosab a Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Edif?cio do Centro de Ci?ncias da Sa?de, Bloco K, 2? andar, Cidade Universit?ria, Ilha do Fund?o, 21.941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil b Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Brazil Correspondence to Antonio Cunha (email: antonioledo@yahoo.com.br). (Submitted: 16 March 2016 ? Published online: 16 March 2016)
Abstract
Objective To describe the evolution of cases of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection in Brazil in 2015-2016. Methods Analysis of secondary epidemiological data, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, to monitor the epidemic by Zika virus. Cases of microcephaly classified as notified, confirmed, excluded, under investigation, and Zika virusassociated were studied, as well as their temporal evolution. The data are presented in absolute numbers, percentages and prevalence rates. The excluded to confirmed ratio, the increment rate and the percentage of confirmed cases were calculated.
Findings
Until March 2016, the number of cases of microcephaly and/or abnormalities of the central nervous system being investigated in Brazil (n=4231) was almost 6 times the number of confirmed cases (n=745); these 745 were approximately one-third of those who concluded the investigation (confirmed+excluded=1927). The number of confirmed cases associated to Zika virus was small (n=88). Most of the notified and confirmed cases occurred in the northeastern region, where the state of Pernambuco, Para?ba and Rio Grande do Norte showed the largest prevalence. A marked increase in the notified cases (58.2%), confirmed cases (223.9%), and Zika virus associated cases (> 14x) occurred in 2016.
Conclusions
The epidemic of microcephaly and neurological abnormalities associated with the Zika virus in Brazil is not declining and control measures should be intensified. In the light of the vast potential for spread of this virus, the knowledge of what occurs in Brazil may contribute to health actions in other places.
...
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