El Salvador Urges Women To Delay Pregnancy Until 2018 Over Zika Fears

[Gert van der Hoek]

Over 5,000 people have tested positive for Zika virus, including 96 pregnant women.


01/22/2016


SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - El Salvador on Thursday urged women in the Central American nation to avoid getting pregnant until 2018 to avoid their children developing birth defects from the mosquito-borne Zika virus which has rampaged through the Americas.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to carry the dengue, yellow fever and Chikungunya viruses. Health experts are unsure why the virus, which was first detected in Africa in 1947 but unknown in the Americas until last year, is spreading so rapidly in Brazil and neighboring countries.

Although research is still underway, significant evidence in Brazil shows a link between Zika infections and rising cases of microcephaly, a neurological disorder in which infants are born with smaller craniums and brains.

"We'd like to suggest to all the women of fertile age that they take steps to plan theirpregnancies, and avoid getting pregnant between this year and next," said Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza.

 

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Translation Google

25 HEALTHY BABIES BORN TO MOTHERS WHO HAD ZIKA IN EL SALVADOR

The Ministry of Health registered so far 180 pregnant women with symptoms of zika.

February 15, 2016 to (s) 10:13 / Beatriz Calderon Byron Sosa reports.

A total of 25 babies have recently been born to mothers who became ill with zika in El Salvador, reported the Health Minister Violeta Menjivar. The 25 babies were born healthy and without any problems, health officials said. The latest issue of pregnant women with symptoms of zika is 180, according to the National Health System (NHS). on Wednesday, the minister will travel to Honduras to participate in a meeting of the countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) to refine a plan to combat zika. for one thing, Menjivar said that in the coming days will begin distributing abate in large quantities throughout the country. as for the reported cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, authorities have 118. This is a syndrome presented by some patients who have had zika.

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Translation Google

186 PREGNANT WOMEN WITH SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS ZIKA

Zika and passes the 4,000 cases. MINSAL forum makes it possible to refine the strategies that must be implemented in the country.

February 15, 2016 to (s) 15:14 / Byron Sosa

Health officials updated information on the Zika and other diseases

El Salvador has already registered 4,087 cases of Zika, of which 186 correspond to pregnant women that the virus transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti affected. The baby could be at risk for microcephaly. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health, during a forum organized by the National Health System (NHS) with different institutions for an update on the Zika virus, the health implications and other viral diseases.

the SNS met in this first forum with health professionals, the Medical College and the scientific community to analyze the whole process of the national response against arbovirus (dengue, chikungunya and Zika). "it is an important forum for us because it helps us to have a common vision and the presence of the Pan American Health Organization. We help sharpen the strategies that we are developing in the country, "said Minister of Health Violeta Menjivar.

At the moment one of the related or consequential diseases to zika such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) has shown a decline in recent weeks. As explained Deputy Health Services, Julio Robles Ticas, the 1st of December 2015 to February 9, 2016, there have been 118 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS ); of these, 79 have already been discharged and only two cases pending audit to determine if his death was for having previously zika. While in the case of chikungunya are 2,881 cases, so that to date there are 24% less of cases last year.

http://www.laprensagrafica.com/2016/02/15/186-mujeres-embarazadas-con-virus-de-zika