Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
On Brazil's Zika front lines, cases of microcephaly are actually dropping
February 3, 2016
RECIFE, Brazil ? Brazilian doctors at the epicenter of the Zika virus crisis told GlobalPost that the number of suspected cases of microcephaly, a birth defect linked to the virus, peaked at their hospital weeks ago and has declined significantly since then.
The four maternity care doctors interviewed this week work at the IMIP maternity and children?s health center. It's one of the two main hospitals in this northeastern Brazilian city where there have been increased reported cases of microcephaly, in which a baby develops with a smaller-than-normal head.
At the end of last year, the doctors say, they saw a sudden spike in reported microcephaly cases. But in January, cases of the birth defect decreased substantially. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the increase and subsequent drop.
Hospital officials and physicians said they could not provide specific statistics, but all spoke confidently about a downward trend they are noticing.
What they're observing in Recife could be a trend across the northeastern state. On Wednesday, the health secretary of Pernambuco state, of which Recife is the capital, issued a new bulletin showing a downward trend. Weekly cases of microcephaly reported in the state peaked at 194 at the beginning of last November. Last week, just 34 cases were reported statewide.
This trend could mark an unexpected shift for health problems that have been raising international alarm.
h/t Ian Mackay
READ MORE
February 3, 2016
RECIFE, Brazil ? Brazilian doctors at the epicenter of the Zika virus crisis told GlobalPost that the number of suspected cases of microcephaly, a birth defect linked to the virus, peaked at their hospital weeks ago and has declined significantly since then.
The four maternity care doctors interviewed this week work at the IMIP maternity and children?s health center. It's one of the two main hospitals in this northeastern Brazilian city where there have been increased reported cases of microcephaly, in which a baby develops with a smaller-than-normal head.
At the end of last year, the doctors say, they saw a sudden spike in reported microcephaly cases. But in January, cases of the birth defect decreased substantially. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the increase and subsequent drop.
Hospital officials and physicians said they could not provide specific statistics, but all spoke confidently about a downward trend they are noticing.
What they're observing in Recife could be a trend across the northeastern state. On Wednesday, the health secretary of Pernambuco state, of which Recife is the capital, issued a new bulletin showing a downward trend. Weekly cases of microcephaly reported in the state peaked at 194 at the beginning of last November. Last week, just 34 cases were reported statewide.
This trend could mark an unexpected shift for health problems that have been raising international alarm.
h/t Ian Mackay
READ MORE