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Minister reaffirms link between zika and microcephaly
Experts argue that research is needed to the scientific evidence of the link
Health Minister Marcelo Castro, during an event in BrasilReuters
Although the WHO (World Health Organization) has been cautious in establishing the relationship between zika virus and microcephaly outbreak, Health Minister, Marcelo Castro, said on Monday (1), that for the government, since there is enough evidence of that link.
"In epidemiological terms, and making the connection biologically, there is no doubt that is the zika that is causing microcephaly epidemic in Brazil," said he in the program wheel Viv to, the TV Cultura, after quoting examinations in fetuses and babies the Northeast that detected the presence of the virus.
Castro also said the ministry's priority is the pursuit of vaccine zika. "We are making several partnerships. I will talk tomorrow with the US health secretary. And Pedro Vasconcelos (researcher at the Instituto Evandro Chagas) is the University of Texas, the largest research center for arboviruses vaccine," he said.
Doubts
Other participants pondered program that, although the evidence is stronger, more research is needed for scientific proof. "An observed association does not mean cause and effect. We need formal proofs. We need to see how the zika virus migrates to the cells where it forms the brain. Scientists need to study the natural history of disease," said Jorge Kalil, director of the Institute Butantan, which is currently developing a vaccine against dengue.
As the latest report, they are investigated 3,448 reports of suspected microcephaly and Brazil has confirmed 270 cases of malformation. "The first time that the ministry was on 22 October. On the 26th, the technicians were already there. Then we declare a public health problem," said the minister. "On 29 November, laboratories of excellence declared microcephaly caused by zika. The virus has been identified in amniotic fluid and placenta," he said.
The Brazilian position was taken on Monday to the World Health Organization by Pedro Vasconcelos. "He identified a protein in the fluid of a child with microcephaly, which shows this relationship. This whole set, plus the story of people who had zika and then the child (lead in the relationship)," said Castro.
The minister also said that the country jumped from an annual record of 150 cases of microcephaly for more than 3,000.This after a zika outbreak in the Northeast, just at the end of summer.
Also present at the debate, the State Secretary of Health of S?o Paulo, David Uip, pointed out that, as microcephaly was not notifiable before November, many cases now recorded not necessarily relate to the zika. "In S?o Paulo, had 126 records since November, but doing research with pregnant women have only 21 cases of suspected links with the virus zika. As we are looking for more cases, we are finding it," he said.
Public buildings
The minister also stated that President Rousseff directed all ministers, at a meeting on Monday night in Brasilia, to focus on the work to combat the breeding also in public buildings. "She does not want mosquito outbreaks in government buildings. We must lead by example," he said, the program range.
http://noticias.r7.com/saude/ministr...falia-02022016
machine translation
Experts argue that research is needed to the scientific evidence of the link
Health Minister Marcelo Castro, during an event in BrasilReuters
Although the WHO (World Health Organization) has been cautious in establishing the relationship between zika virus and microcephaly outbreak, Health Minister, Marcelo Castro, said on Monday (1), that for the government, since there is enough evidence of that link.
"In epidemiological terms, and making the connection biologically, there is no doubt that is the zika that is causing microcephaly epidemic in Brazil," said he in the program wheel Viv to, the TV Cultura, after quoting examinations in fetuses and babies the Northeast that detected the presence of the virus.
Castro also said the ministry's priority is the pursuit of vaccine zika. "We are making several partnerships. I will talk tomorrow with the US health secretary. And Pedro Vasconcelos (researcher at the Instituto Evandro Chagas) is the University of Texas, the largest research center for arboviruses vaccine," he said.
Doubts
Other participants pondered program that, although the evidence is stronger, more research is needed for scientific proof. "An observed association does not mean cause and effect. We need formal proofs. We need to see how the zika virus migrates to the cells where it forms the brain. Scientists need to study the natural history of disease," said Jorge Kalil, director of the Institute Butantan, which is currently developing a vaccine against dengue.
As the latest report, they are investigated 3,448 reports of suspected microcephaly and Brazil has confirmed 270 cases of malformation. "The first time that the ministry was on 22 October. On the 26th, the technicians were already there. Then we declare a public health problem," said the minister. "On 29 November, laboratories of excellence declared microcephaly caused by zika. The virus has been identified in amniotic fluid and placenta," he said.
The Brazilian position was taken on Monday to the World Health Organization by Pedro Vasconcelos. "He identified a protein in the fluid of a child with microcephaly, which shows this relationship. This whole set, plus the story of people who had zika and then the child (lead in the relationship)," said Castro.
The minister also said that the country jumped from an annual record of 150 cases of microcephaly for more than 3,000.This after a zika outbreak in the Northeast, just at the end of summer.
Also present at the debate, the State Secretary of Health of S?o Paulo, David Uip, pointed out that, as microcephaly was not notifiable before November, many cases now recorded not necessarily relate to the zika. "In S?o Paulo, had 126 records since November, but doing research with pregnant women have only 21 cases of suspected links with the virus zika. As we are looking for more cases, we are finding it," he said.
Public buildings
The minister also stated that President Rousseff directed all ministers, at a meeting on Monday night in Brasilia, to focus on the work to combat the breeding also in public buildings. "She does not want mosquito outbreaks in government buildings. We must lead by example," he said, the program range.
http://noticias.r7.com/saude/ministr...falia-02022016
machine translation
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