Timeline and Links of Important Press Releases by the Brazil Ministry of Health Regarding the Zika Outbreak (through January 20, 2016)

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Timeline and Links of Important Press Releases by the Brazil Ministry of Health Regarding the Zika Outbreak (through January 20, 2016)

May 14, 2015 Zika virus confirmed in Brazil.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...ude/17701-confirmacao-do-zika-virus-no-brasil

November 11, 2015 Increases in microcephaly are reported in the northeastern states, two pregnant women from Paraiba state test positive for the Zika virus, ultrasound confirmed microcephaly in the two fetuses.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...terio-da-saude-divulga-boletim-epidemiologico

November 24, 2015 Increases in microcephaly continued to be reported, and information on the two pregnant women from Paraiba state is repeated. An important disclaimer is carried over from the previous report:

. . .Despite being an important scientific finding for understanding the Zika virus infection in humans, the current data do not allow correlating unequivocally causally, infection Zika with microcephaly. Such clarification will be given by studies coordinated by the Ministry and other institutions involved in research into the causes of microcephaly in the country. . . .

http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...925-ministerio-divulga-boletim-epidemiologico

November 28, 2015 A baby born in Ceara state with microcephaly and other congenital defects test positive for the Zika virus. Two deaths are reported.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...firma-relacao-entre-virus-zika-e-microcefalia

November 30, 2015 Increasing counts of microcephaly are reported. Case information is repeated. Information for pregnant women includes continued visits with their doctor and recommendations for protecting themselves from mosquito bites.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...-da-saude-divulga-novos-dados-de-microcefalia

December 8, 2015 increasing amounts microcephaly are reported. Also reported are 19 deaths of infants with microcephaly from eight states. All 19 infants were suspected of a Zika infection with the causes of death under investigation.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...-da-saude-divulga-novos-casos-de-microcefalia

December 8, 2015 Of 150 cases of pregnant women with rash (possible sign of Zika infection), only one woman was infected with the Zika virus.

. . . ZIKA - Since November 18, 2015, when the state began to notify pregnant women with red spots on the skin (rash), there have been 150 cases of pregnant women with these signs. So far, only one had confirmation Zika virus, but there is still no confirmation if the fetus has microcephaly. Earlier this month, the State Department of Health began to publish weekly reports of cases of microcephaly in the state of Rio de Janeiro. From January 1 to December 1, 2015 were recorded 23 cases of the disease, of which 19 are already born babies and four are related to the intrauterine period. Of this total, eight women reported a history of red spots by the body during pregnancy. . .

http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...tro-participa-de-lancamento-da-campanha-no-rj

December 12, 2015 More information on counts of microcephaly are reported. No information about the number of Zika-infected cases is provided.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...-numeros-de-microcefalia-relacionados-ao-zika

January 5, 2016 Continued reporting on increases in microcephaly. Large numbers of these cases are now being reported as suspected Zika cases.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...ude-divulga-dados-atualizados-de-microcefalia

January 12, 2016 By this time, Brazilian health authorities are focusing more on the number of cases of microcephaly than on cases of confirmed Zika virus. The report indicates four infant deaths, two miscarriages and two newborns, with confirmed Zika virus PCR results had occurred. The results were being analyzed by the US CDC.
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...falia-sao-divulgados-pelo-ministerio-da-saude

January 20, 2016 The Brazilian health authorities are now reporting microcephaly cases as primarily resulting from Zika virus infections. According to the report however, only 6 cases of microcephaly haven been confirmed with Zika infections by PCR.

. . . In total there were 49 reported deaths due to congenital malformations. These five have been confirmed for the relationship with the Zika virus, all in the Northeast, one in Cear? and four in Rio Grande do Norte. Additionally, the release also brings the laboratory investigation of a baby with microcephaly in Minas Gerais, which had the relationship with Zika diagnosed. This is the sixth confirmed the relationship of the disease with the virus. These results add to the other scientific evidence obtained in 2015 and reinforce the hypothesis relationship between the Zika virus infection and the occurrence of microcephaly and other congenital malformations. . . .

http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/ind...-em-20-vezes-a-capacidade-para-testes-de-zika