In a follow-up to the surge of microcephaly cases in northeast Brazil and the source of the massive increase in cases, Brazil health officials believe that have confirmed the relationship between the neurological disorder and the mosquito borne virus, Zika virus.
In a Ministry of Health news release Saturday (computer translated), The Evandro Chagas Institute reported the results on a newborn born in Ceará who had micocephaly was also positive for Zika virus in both blood and tissue samples.
The case, who has died, is considered by the health ministry as confirmation of the relationship between the virus and microcephaly. Although health officials call the findings unprecedented, they also note further studies and investigation are required in the issue.
In addition, Brazilian health officials say they have seen the first Zika related fatalities in the world in two individuals. One case was a man from São Luís, Maranhão with Lupus and chronic steroid usage and the second is 16-year-old girl from Bala.
The combination of discoveries has reinforced health officials to call for a national mobilization against the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, which also carries the viral agents for dengue fever and chikungunya.
Related:
- Mexico, Paraguay and El Salvador: Zika virus spreads in the Americas
- Dengue in Brazil tops 1.5 million in 2015, Zika linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Mexico chikungunya cases top 10,000, CDC updates travel notice
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