Zika virus 'does cause birth defects'
Conclusion
The scientists say that, on balance, "we suggest that sufficient evidence has accumulated" to say that Zika is the cause of the current spike of microcephaly cases.
They add that researchers, "have been unable to identify alternative hypotheses" for the increase in microcephaly.
How does Zika and microcephaly affect you?
Public health advice about Zika virus has not changed. At present, Zika virus is thought to be transmitted by mosquitoes in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cape Verde. See an updated list here.
The Royal College ...
Source: NHS News Feed - April 14, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Pregnancy/child QA articles Source Type: news
WHO expects over 2,500 Zika-linked microcephaly cases in Brazil
The World Health Organization says 39 percent of suspected cases have been confirmed in Brazil. Cases are now appearing in Panama and Cape Verde as the virus keeps spreading. This is a developing story. It will be updated. (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Source: Washington Post: To Your Health - March 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Washington Post Source Type: news
WHO supports Cabo Verde in managing Zika virus
Responding to a request from the Ministry of Health in Cabo Verde, WHO is sending a team to Cabo Verde, with joint participation of experts from WHO AFRO and the Institut Pasteur, Dakar. Although the number of cases of Zika in Cabo Verde is declining, the Minister of Health announced on 15 March the first case of microcephaly. Investigations are underway to determine if this case of microcephaly is linked to Cabo Verde’s outbreak of Zika virus. Among the 7 490 suspected cases of Zika virus reported between 21 October 2015 and 6 March 2016, 165 involve pregnant women, from which 44 women have already delivered without an...
Source: WHO news - March 18, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Tags: zika, zika Source Type: news
WHO sends team to Cape Verde after microcephaly case found
PRAIA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation said on Friday it is sending a team to Cape Verde to evaluate the first case of the neurological disorder microcephaly, thought to be linked to the Zika virus, in the island nation off West Africa. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - March 18, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
West Africa, Ebola and the threat of Zika
(Georgetown University Medical Center) Rapid testing for the Zika virus is a critical need in the recent Ebola-affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, says a Georgetown University professor, because of the recent Zika outbreak on nearby Cape Verde and the similarity in symptoms between Zika and early Ebola. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - March 17, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Zika-hit Cape Verde identifies first case of microcephaly
PRAIA (Reuters) - Cape Verde has identified its first case of the neurological disorder microcephaly, thought to be linked to the Zika virus, in what would be a first for Africa. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - March 16, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
If You Don't Like The Idea Of Abortion, Don't Get One
The World Health Organization estimates that 211 million pregnancies occur each year. Approximately 87 million of these pregnancies occur unintentionally. Of the total number of pregnancies a year, around 46 million end in abortion. Around 40 percent of these are carried out under unsafe conditions; 47,000 women die as a result of unsafe abortions each year. Surely, this is not what we want for our women. Abortion is not about opinion. Legalizing abortion is not a question of beliefs, taboos or religion-- all that should not even be part of the conversation. Abortion is a question of public health, and it must be dealt w...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - March 3, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
The Latest On Zika: Experts Are Divided Over Genetically Modified Mosquitos
The Zika virus, which is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is strongly suspected to be linked to a new wave of microcephaly cases in Brazil. Babies born with the birth defect have smaller heads and sometimes brains that aren't fully developed, which can result in life-long developmental problems. Zika is currently spreading through Central and South America and the Caribbean, and with the high volume of news about the virus, it's tough to stay up-to-date. Check out our full coverage, or read our daily recaps. Here are four updates, opinions and developments to know about now: 1. ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - February 16, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
The Latest On Zika: Why The Pope Should Weigh In On Contraception
This week, while research groups formed coalitions to develop a Zika virus vaccine, scientists learned more about the disease after an autopsy report showed Zika virus in brain tissue of an aborted fetus. The fetus's mother had contracted Zika virus in Brazil during her first trimester.
The Zika virus, which is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is strongly suspected to be linked to a new wave of microcephaly cases in Brazil. Babies born with the birth defect have smaller heads and brains that aren't fully developed, which can result in life-long developmental problems.
With the high volume of ne...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - February 11, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
What Pregnant Women Should Know About Zika Virus
On Monday, the World Health Organization declared a "public health emergency of international concern" due to the cluster of birth defects potentially linked to Zika virus. No one is probably more concerned about this connection than the world’s pregnant women, especially those who are living in an area where there is ongoing Zika virus transmission. While the virus’ symptoms (fever, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis) are no cause for alarm and rarely require hospitalization, the disease is suspected of causing severe birth defects like microcephaly, when a baby is born with an abnormally small head. ...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - February 2, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
What you need to know about Zika virus
Follow me at @JohnRossMD
Last week, the government of El Salvador gave what might be the strangest public health advice of all time: don’t get pregnant for the next two years. Officials in Colombia, Ecuador, and Jamaica have also warned women to avoid pregnancy, although only for the next several months.
The reason for these unusual recommendations? An outbreak of Zika virus, currently raging in 21 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Samoa, and Cape Verde.
Until recently, Zika was an obscure virus, confined to equatorial Africa and Asia, and kn...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - February 1, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Ross, MD, FIDSA Tags: Children's Health Family Planning and Pregnancy Infectious diseases Prevention Safety Source Type: news
CDC expands Zika virus alert; more countries issue pregnancy warnings
Pregnant women should not travel to Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa because of Zika virus, the CDC said Friday. (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Source: CNN.com - Health - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak
In October 2015, Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquito. Since its discovery in Uganda in 1947, Zika virus has popped up in different African and Asian countries, but no widespread outbreaks had occurred until 2013, when the virus infected an estimated 11 percent of the population of French Polynesi...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak
In October 2015, Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquito. Since its discovery in Uganda in 1947, Zika virus has popped up in different African and Asian countries, but no widespread outbreaks had occurred until 2013, when the virus infected an estimated 11 percent of the population of French Polynesi...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 22, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
C.D.C. Issues Travel Alert for 8 More Locations Over Zika Virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added eight destinations to a list of countries that pregnant women should avoid to prevent infection. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS Tags: Travel Warnings Ecuador Centers for Disease Control and Prevention St Martin (Caribbean) Women and Girls Pregnancy and Childbirth Bolivia Guadeloupe Barbados Samoa Zika Virus Guyana Cape Verde Source Type: news
