tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
A first of its kind study of U.S.-born babies exposed to the Zika virus shows higher rates of birth defects for those exposed in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The study, published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is the first time researchers have tried to estimate the likelihood of birth defects, particularly brain abnormalities and microcephaly, developing in a fetus if a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus.
The highest rates of birth defects appeared to occur when the pregnant women had the virus in the first trimester. In 85 women who had Zika symptoms or exposure to the virus in the first trimester, 11 percent of the infants had birth defects.
Overall, six percent of infants born to women in the U.S. who were exposed to the Zika virus were found to have birth defects.
"These data highlight the critical importance of primary prevention as recommended by the current CDC guidelines," the authors wrote.
...
http://abc7chicago.com/news/babies-...ely-to-have-birth-defects-study-says/1656131/
The study, published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is the first time researchers have tried to estimate the likelihood of birth defects, particularly brain abnormalities and microcephaly, developing in a fetus if a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus.
The highest rates of birth defects appeared to occur when the pregnant women had the virus in the first trimester. In 85 women who had Zika symptoms or exposure to the virus in the first trimester, 11 percent of the infants had birth defects.
Overall, six percent of infants born to women in the U.S. who were exposed to the Zika virus were found to have birth defects.
"These data highlight the critical importance of primary prevention as recommended by the current CDC guidelines," the authors wrote.
...
http://abc7chicago.com/news/babies-...ely-to-have-birth-defects-study-says/1656131/