title: Notes from the Field: Evidence of Zika Virus Infection in Brain and Placental Tissues from Two Congenitally Infected Newborns and Two Fetal Losses--Brazil, 2015.
abstract: Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is related to dengue virus and transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, with humans acting as the principal amplifying host during outbreaks. Zika virus was first reported in Brazil in May 2015 (1). By February 9, 2016, local transmission of infection had been reported in 26 countries or territories in the Americas.* Infection is usually asymptomatic, and, when symptoms are present, typically results in mild and self-limited illness with symptoms including fever, rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis. However, a surge in the number of children born with microcephaly was noted in regions of Brazil with a high prevalence of suspected Zika virus disease cases. More than 4,700 suspected cases of microcephaly were reported from mid-2015 through January 2016, although additional investigations might eventually result in a revised lower number (2). In response, the Brazil Ministry of Health established a task force to further investigate possible connections between the virus and brain anomalies in infants (3).
authors.forename: Roosecelis Brasil
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Martines
authors.forename: Julu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: M Kelly
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva-Flannery
authors.forename: Atis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muehlenbachs
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rollin
authors.forename: Wun-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Kleber G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: Ana Maria de Oliveira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Helaine Pompeia Freire
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Davi
authors.forename: Wanderson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kleber de Oliveria
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanciotti
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaki
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000821:virology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral