01/06/2016
Important Alert from ISUOG........... If you are travelling to South America and pregnant, please read this alert!!!!!!!
Zika virus intrauterine infection causes fetal brain abnormality and microcephaly
Physician Alert
A recent outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus has been reported in South America and the Pacific region. Associated with the rapid increase in affected cases is the worrying increase in diagnoses of fetal microcephaly throughout Brazil, with almost 3000 cases reported by the end of December 2015. Vertical transmission of Zika virus from mother to fetus has not yet been documented; however a recent report from the state of Paraiba, Brazil, has identified two women with intrauterine transmission of the virus, which was confirmed by sequencing of amniocentesis samples. This virus appears to be the cause behind the microcephaly outbreak, which clearly represents a severe health threat that needs to be acted on imminently.
Recently published observations in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology indicate that healthcare professionals should be aware of fetal imaging findings, particularly of the brain and head size, when performing ultrasound examinations on pregnant women who reside in, or have visited recently, areas in which Zika virus is known to be prevalent. Evidence from the published case descriptions suggests that women presenting with viral symptoms should be tested for Zika virus and, if found to be positive, the fetus should be assessed for potential effects on brain development. In the evaluation of a fetus with microcephaly, brain calcifications eye anomalies and/or cerebellar hypoplasia, maternal testing and amnio-PCR for detection of Zika virus should be considered.
For full details please read our Physician Alert published today in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology (UOG).