Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2016
In cases that remain under investigation, another 270 were confirmed to have the disease, and 462 were classified as discarded
The Ministry of Health and the states investigating 3,448 suspected cases of microcephaly across the country. The new report released on Wednesday (27) also points out that 270 cases have had microcephaly confirmation, and 6 with respect to the Zika virus. Other 462 reported cases have been discarded. In all, 4,180 suspected cases of microcephaly were recorded until 23 January.
"The increase of suspected cases reported this past week was lower compared to previous weeks. The increase in reported cases was 7%, with respect to the release of January 20. Already the number of cases disposed of in the same period grew 63%, from 282 to the current 462, "said Claudio Maierovitch, director of the Department of Surveillance of Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health.
In total, 68 deaths were reported due to congenital malformations after delivery (stillbirth) or during pregnancy (miscarriage). Of these, 12 were confirmed to the relationship with congenital infection, all in the Northeast, 10 in Rio Grande do Norte, one in Cear? and one in Piau?. Continue research in 51 deaths and five have already been discarded.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Health is investigating all cases of microcephaly or defects reported by the states, and the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections. The microcephaly can be caused by various infectious agents beyond Zika, such as syphilis, toxoplasmosis, Other Infectious Agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Viral.
According to the report, the 4,180 cases reported since the beginning of the investigation on 22 October last year - were recorded in 830 municipalities in 24 Brazilian states. The Northeast region has 86% of reported cases and Pernambuco continues with the highest number of cases that remain under investigation (1125), followed by the states of Para?ba (497), Bahia (471), Cear? (218), Sergipe (172 ), Alagoas (158), Rio Grande do Norte (133), Rio de Janeiro (122) and Maranh?o (119).
So far, they are with indigenous circulation of Zika virus 22 units of the federation. They are: Goi?s, Minas Gerais, Federal District, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Esp?rito Santo , Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Parana.
TESTING - Currently, the movement of the Zika is confirmed by PCR with molecular biology technology. From the confirmation in a particular locality, the other diagnoses are made clinically, for medical assessment of symptoms. The Ministry of Health distribute thousand 500 tests to perform diagnostic PCR (molecular biology) for Zika virus.
As a result, public laboratories will expand 20 times the capacity of the exams, from thousand to 20 thousand monthly diagnostics. The first 250,000 units is scheduled for delivery in February, initially to 27 laboratories, four of reference and 23 Central Laboratories of Public Health (LACEN). It is expected that the other 250,000 tests are available from the second half. In total, the Ministry of Health invested R $ 6 million for the purchase of products.
The recommendation of the Ministry of Health, as Surveillance Protocol and response to occurrence of microcephaly, is to be prioritized for the test, pregnant women with symptoms of Zika virus, pregnant women microcephalic baby, and infants with suspected microcephaly.
ORIENTATION - The Ministry of Health advises pregnant women to adopt measures to reduce the presence of disease-transmitting mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites, and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, such as keeping doors and closed or screened windows, wear pants and shirt long-sleeved and use repellents allowed for pregnant women.
In cases that remain under investigation, another 270 were confirmed to have the disease, and 462 were classified as discarded
The Ministry of Health and the states investigating 3,448 suspected cases of microcephaly across the country. The new report released on Wednesday (27) also points out that 270 cases have had microcephaly confirmation, and 6 with respect to the Zika virus. Other 462 reported cases have been discarded. In all, 4,180 suspected cases of microcephaly were recorded until 23 January.
"The increase of suspected cases reported this past week was lower compared to previous weeks. The increase in reported cases was 7%, with respect to the release of January 20. Already the number of cases disposed of in the same period grew 63%, from 282 to the current 462, "said Claudio Maierovitch, director of the Department of Surveillance of Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health.
In total, 68 deaths were reported due to congenital malformations after delivery (stillbirth) or during pregnancy (miscarriage). Of these, 12 were confirmed to the relationship with congenital infection, all in the Northeast, 10 in Rio Grande do Norte, one in Cear? and one in Piau?. Continue research in 51 deaths and five have already been discarded.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Health is investigating all cases of microcephaly or defects reported by the states, and the possible relationship with the Zika virus and other congenital infections. The microcephaly can be caused by various infectious agents beyond Zika, such as syphilis, toxoplasmosis, Other Infectious Agents, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Viral.
According to the report, the 4,180 cases reported since the beginning of the investigation on 22 October last year - were recorded in 830 municipalities in 24 Brazilian states. The Northeast region has 86% of reported cases and Pernambuco continues with the highest number of cases that remain under investigation (1125), followed by the states of Para?ba (497), Bahia (471), Cear? (218), Sergipe (172 ), Alagoas (158), Rio Grande do Norte (133), Rio de Janeiro (122) and Maranh?o (119).
So far, they are with indigenous circulation of Zika virus 22 units of the federation. They are: Goi?s, Minas Gerais, Federal District, Mato Grosso do Sul, Roraima, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Esp?rito Santo , Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Parana.
TESTING - Currently, the movement of the Zika is confirmed by PCR with molecular biology technology. From the confirmation in a particular locality, the other diagnoses are made clinically, for medical assessment of symptoms. The Ministry of Health distribute thousand 500 tests to perform diagnostic PCR (molecular biology) for Zika virus.
As a result, public laboratories will expand 20 times the capacity of the exams, from thousand to 20 thousand monthly diagnostics. The first 250,000 units is scheduled for delivery in February, initially to 27 laboratories, four of reference and 23 Central Laboratories of Public Health (LACEN). It is expected that the other 250,000 tests are available from the second half. In total, the Ministry of Health invested R $ 6 million for the purchase of products.
The recommendation of the Ministry of Health, as Surveillance Protocol and response to occurrence of microcephaly, is to be prioritized for the test, pregnant women with symptoms of Zika virus, pregnant women microcephalic baby, and infants with suspected microcephaly.
ORIENTATION - The Ministry of Health advises pregnant women to adopt measures to reduce the presence of disease-transmitting mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites, and protect themselves from mosquito exposure, such as keeping doors and closed or screened windows, wear pants and shirt long-sleeved and use repellents allowed for pregnant women.