US Zika Infections During Pregnancy Climbs to 320, CDC Says
Source: abc
US Zika Infections During Pregnancy Climbs to 320, CDC Says
Jul 7, 2016, 3:02 PM ET
Evidence of the Zika virus has been found in at least 320 pregnant women in the U.S. according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden called the virus a “silent epidemic” as it continues to spread across the Americas. While the virus can cause mild symptoms such as fever, rash and pink eye, it has been found to cause devastating birth defects including microcephaly. One reason the virus is so difficult to track is because four out of five people infected do not show symptoms. In Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, Frieden said “dozens and perhaps 50 pregnant women are becoming infected with the Zika virus” every day.
“The vast majority of these pregnancies have not yet come to term," Frieden told reporters today. "Those that have come to term are those with infections occurring later on in pregnancy, when we believe the risk [of birth defects including microcephaly] is lower."
In the U.S. seven infants have been born with birth defects after their mothers became infected with Zika while pregnant, according to Frieden. Five additional pregnancies showed fetuses with birth defects. Microcephaly is characterized by an abnormally small head can lead to developmental delays among other symptoms.
"It’s a tragedy for each family affected," Frieden said. "Hundreds and hundreds of American women [are] dealing with this." .......................
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/320-pregnant-women-us-zika-cdc/story?id=40412233
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Evidence of the Zika virus has been found in at least 320 pregnant women in U.S., CDC says. http://abcn.ws/29q4JtL
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