Zika

Zika Seroprevalence of 2.4% in Postpartum Women

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 24 May 2025 10:31:44 +0000

Reviewer:

Over the past decade, the Zika virus has been found in over 50 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas.

As of May 24, 2025, Zika virus (ZIKV) remains a significant public health concern in Brazil, with over 11,500 cases reported this year.

While most people recover from this mosquito-transmitted disease, pregnant women and their unborn children may become infected, leading to serious health issues.

Researchers have stated that understanding population serological status, particularly in pregnant women, is vital for estimating the spread of this virus.

A research article published by the Journal of Medical Virology on May 21, 2025, assessed ZIKV seroprevalence in pregnant women and the transplacental transfer of antibodies to their newborns, crucial for early-life protection.

Effective transplacental transfer of specific ZIKV antibodies from mothers to newborns was observed.

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted with 601 postpartum women and their newborns in São Paulo city, Brazil, post-ZIKV fever outbreak.

Paired maternal and umbilical blood samples were collected for ZIKV antibody testing. ZIKV neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were detected in 2.4% of these women.

Maternal and neonatal characteristics were associated with seropositivity for ZIKV and the antibody transfer to neonates. Maternal place of birth, parity, education level, and prenatal Toxoplasmosis serology were identified as risk factors associated with ZIKV infection.

Low seroprevalence of ZIKV antibodies in the study population indicates a high vulnerability to infection by these viruses.

The low ZIKV seroprevalence observed in this study contrasts sharply with higher rates reported in the Northeast of Brazil, with 63% in pregnant women in Salvador (2015–2016) and 30% among Bolivian blood donors (2016–2017).

This study's findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the antibody transfer dynamics in the context of ZIKV infection. This understanding is paramount, as it can potentially inform vaccine development strategies in endemic regions and guide the development of more effective neonatal infection prevention measures.

Published in JAMA Network Open in January 2025, a population-based study of mortality rates among 11.4 million children born with a severe Zika virus infection had a strikingly higher risk of overall and cause-specific mortality.

Young children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) had a 13-fold higher risk of death compared with those without CZS. This study found that the cause-specific mortality hazard ratio was 30.28.

The U.S. CDC's updated Yellow Book says healthcare professionals should know how to diagnose, treat, and prevent Zika in international travelers, especially pregnant women.

The CDC writes providers should 'carefully evaluate pregnant women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection; closely manage these patients during pregnancy and carefully evaluate live-born infants for clinical features associated with intrauterine infection.'

While an innovative Zika vaccine candidate is conducting clinical trials in 2025, no vaccine has been approved.

Researchers recently estimated that mosquitoes are carrying the Zika virus into new regions, and approximately 1.3 billion people could be affected by Zika by the year 2050.

The Pan American Health Organization writes, 'The decision to travel to a country with a history of Zika circulation should be based on a personal risk assessment, done in conjunction with the traveler's healthcare provider, that accounts for individual risk factors for severe outcomes from the possibility of a Zika infection.'

Sub Title:

Zika infection rates in women and infants vary by geography

Reference:

Seroprevalence and Placental Transfer of Zika and Dengue Virus Antibodies in Postpartum Women in Southeast Brazil

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, May 24, 2025 - 07:00

Image Caption:

Pixabay May 2025

Pregnant Women Should Not Visit Zika Outbreak Zones in 2025

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:35:24 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Since the Zika virus disease (ZIKV) was first identified in 1947, outbreaks have often occurred in 92 countries around the world, adversely affecting the health of adults, children, and even unborn infants.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this mosquito-transmitted virus will continue to be a health risk for years.

Researchers estimate that mosquitoes are carrying the Zika virus into new regions, and approximately 1.3 billion people could be affected by Zika by the year 2050.

And without a Zika preventive vaccine available, outbreaks will continue to impact certain people severely, such as pregnant women, who have an increased risk of congenital malformations, such as microcephaly.

According to a study's results published by eClinicalMedicine on May 8, 2025, the pooled absolute risk of microcephaly at birth for newborns born to ZIKV-infected women ranged from 2.5% to 6.1%, depending on the analytical approach.

This study's data, which included 9568 pregnant individuals and 9608 newborns, indicated that the risk of severe primary microcephaly was significantly higher in ZIKV-positive pregnancies (1.5%, CI 0.8%–2.7%) compared to ZIKV-negative ones (0.3%, CI 0.1%–1.0%), with a relative risk of 4.5 (CI 1.5–13.3) in the one-stage meta-analysis.

These researchers wrote, 'Our findings can support planning actions to provide care to mothers who may become infected during pregnancy and their children. Women of reproductive age should be informed about the risks of Zika infection during pregnancy to support reproductive planning.'

Pregnant individuals should be offered testing and informed about potential risks to make informed decisions. Psychological support should be available, and children born to ZIKV-infected pregnant individuals should receive comprehensive evaluations for early diagnosis and management of congenital Zika manifestations.'

As of May 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Yellow Book states that international travelers with suspected Zika infection should be tested with real-time polymerase chain reaction or an NS1 antigen test.

Furthermore, the CDC says the decision to travel to a country with a history of Zika circulation should be based on a personal risk assessment conducted by the woman and her healthcare provider.

The CDC and the PAHO/WHO also issued various Travel Health Advisories, identifying countries reporting Zika cases, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and even the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico.

Without a vaccine, avoiding mosquito bites is the best disease prevention tactic.

In the future, the most advanced Zika vaccine in clinical development, Valneva SE's VLA1601, may become U.S. FDA-approved.

Sub Title:

Zika infection during pregnancy can cause harm to infants

References:

Adverse fetal and perinatal outcomes associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy: an individual participant data meta-

Microcephaly Prevalence in Infants Born to Zika Virus-Infected Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Image:

Age Groups:

Infant

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Friday, May 16, 2025 - 05:30

Image Caption:

PAHO Zika map

South America's Zika Outbreaks Disrupt Summer Vacations

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:19:54 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

As of early April 2025, there is no active Travel Health Notice from the U.S. CDC to inform international travelers about health risks related to Zika virus outbreaks. This means thousands of travelers are visiting affected countries, unaware of the Zika's resurgence.

Since the peak of Zika in 2016, outbreak media coverage has significantly decreased, leaving travelers uncertain where to plan their next vacation.

To fill this information gap, the UK Travel Health Pro recently identified countries reporting unusually high mosquito-transmitted Zika cases.

By the end of 2024, 90 countries across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific reported locally acquired cases of the Zika virus.

According to the Pan American Health Organization's Zika case dashboard as of April 3, 2025, Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia are the South American countries with the highest number of Zika virus disease cases. In total, the Americas have reported 6,014 this year.

In Argentina, a total of 497 cases of Zika have been reported in 2025.

In Bolivia, 31 cases of Zika virus disease have been reported.

And in Brazil, a total of 5,517 Zika cases have been reported since the start of 2025. Last year, Brazil reported over 42,000 Zika cases.

Furthermore, the UK has confirmed that an increasing number of returning travelers have been infected with Zika. The most frequently reported country of travel was Thailand, followed by India.

In 2024, 16 Zika virus disease cases were reported in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a 100% increase from 2023.

The UK says most people infected with the Zika virus do not develop symptoms.

However, Zika infections in pregnant women can cause congenital Zika Syndrome, such as microcephaly and neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

These serious health concerns also apply to returning U.S. travelers, as 18 Zika cases were confirmed in 2024.

A recent discovery published in the journal Nature Communications helps explain why many people develop a weaker immune response to the Zika virus.

Published on March 25, 2025, these researchers identified the effects of Zika on the host T cell response, highlighting the need to factor such differences into the design of anti-flavivirus vaccines.

Since no approved Zika vaccines exist, the CDC and the UK advise travelers visiting Zika-endemic areas to avoid mosquito bites. Moreover, pregnant women are advised to postpone visiting at-risk regions.

This is one Zika vaccine candidate conducting clinical research, indicating another form of prevention is on the horizon.

Valneva SE's VLA1601 is a second-generation purified, inactivated, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate, conducting phase 1 research. Insights from this research are expected later in 2025.

Sub Title:

Zika infections can cause microcephaly and neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome

References:

UKHSA

Nature Communications March 2025

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Friday, April 4, 2025 - 06:45

Image Caption:

US CDC Zika Case Map 2024

Zika Risks Continue in March 2025

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:30:31 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Although the number of Zika virus disease (ZVD) cases has declined globally since 2017, new outbreaks continue to be reported throughout the Americas, including in Puerto Rico.

As of early March 18, 2025, over 3,065 Zika cases have been reported in the Region of the Americas this year.

Last year, 42,127 ZIka cases and two related fatalities were confirmed in the Americas, with the highest proportion of cases reported in South America in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia.

In the United States, the Puerto Rico Department of Health reported 16 locally acquired Zika cases, primarily in the San Juan district, in 2024.

In 2023, 43 Zika virus cases were reported in Puerto Rico.

While most people recover from ZVD, infections have caused microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other central nervous system malformations.

Furthermore, infants born to Zika-infected mothers have been confirmed to suffer from a greater risk for neurodevelopmental delay and life-long health challenges.

Two recent studies highlight these risks.

A population-based study of mortality rates among children younger than five years old in Brazil published by the JAMA Network in January 2025 shows that children with congenital Zika syndrome had a 13-fold higher risk of death compared with those without the mosquito-transmitted virus.

Additionally, a review published on March 6, 2025, focuses on new insights regarding ZVD in the last two years and summarizes the key literature on global epidemiology, transmission, diagnostics, clinical features, preventive measures, and treatment options.

From a prevention perspective, multiple Zika vaccine candidates are in different stages of clinical development; however, as of March 18, 2025, none have been approved by the U.S. FDA.

The U.S. CDC, the United Kingdom, and Canada say that, without the availability of a preventive vaccine, pregnant women should not travel to areas reporting active Zika outbreaks.

Note: This news article was updated for grammar and data clarifications on March 19, 2025.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine development continues in 2025

References:

Zika virus: an overview update

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - 06:30

Image Caption:

Google Maps March 18, 2025

Zika Infection Triggers Enhanced Release of VOC Attractants from Infected Human Skin

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:46:21 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Since the Zika virus epidemic was a public health emergency of international concern in 2016, researchers have been investigating how this mosquito-transmitted disease spreads.

These efforts are essential as some studies have forecasted that over 1 billion people could be impacted during Zika outbreaks by 2050.

Even in 2025, the Region of the Americas has reported 623 Zika cases as of March 10, 2025. Last year, there were about 42,000 ZIka cases in the Americas, including 16 reported by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

A recent study led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and published in Communications Biology in 2025 shows that Zika infections cause metabolic changes in human skin, transforming it from a protective barrier to a magnet for mosquitoes.

The skin is the body's largest organ, serving multiple essential functions, including a physical barrier for protection.

Their research shows that the Zika virus alters gene and protein expression in dermal fibroblasts, the cell type responsible for maintaining the skin's structural integrity.

These metabolic changes increase the production of certain chemicals emitted through the skin, known as volatile organic compounds, that attract mosquitoes and encourage them to bite.

Their findings are supported by an extensive meta-proteome analysis, a technique that examines the overall effect of the interaction of different types of genes and proteins within an organism.

In a press release, LSTM's Dr. Noushin Emami, Reader and co-lead author on the paper, said, "Our findings show that the Zika virus isn't just passively transmitted, but it actively manipulates human biology to ensure its survival."

"As Zika cases rise and Aedes mosquitoes expand their geographic range, understanding the mechanisms by which they gain a transmission advantage could unlock new strategies for combating arboviruses."

"This could include developing genetic interventions that disrupt the signal transmitted through the skin, which seems attractive to mosquitoes."

"The possibilities are as intriguing as they are urgent."

These researchers wrote that there are potentially profound implications of this previously unknown set of arboviral manipulations of its vertebrate host in manners that provoke transmission-enhancing behaviours in its invertebrate host.

As of March 10, 2025, no specific treatments or preventive vaccines are approved for ZIKV. However, Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Sub Title:

Zika virus odor indirectly stimulates greater probability of virus transmission

References:

Zika virus: advancing a priority research agenda for preparedness and response

Zika uses human skin as ‘mosquito magnet’ to spread virus further

US CDC - Zika

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 06:00

Image Caption:

by Peggy Lachmann-Anke

Zika Returns to Eight Countries in 2025

Donald Hackett — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:36:27 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Following a record-setting number of Zika virus outbreaks in 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today reported eight counties have confirmed cases in 2025.

On February 18, 2025, the PAHO's data dashboard revealed that 333 Zika cases had already been confirmed in 2025.

Once again, the Federative Republic of Brazil, which has led this unfortunate list in the Region of the Americas for years, has 271 cases, followed by Bolivia, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru.

Since Zika was first detected in the continent of the Americas in May 2015, the PAHO has identified 52 countries and territories in the Americas that have reported cases and related fatalities.

The large Zika virus outbreaks that occurred during 2015 and 2016 in the Americas have subsided, but the Zika virus continues to be a severe health risk. The PAHO and other health agencies have confirmed that Zika infections can cause microcephaly, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other central nervous system malformations in infected children.

While the PAHO says the best way to avoid these diseases is to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito, an innovative vaccine candidate is progressing in clinical development.

Valneva SE announced today that phase 1 results for its Zika vaccine candidate are expected in the first half of 2025. This news indicates a Zika vaccine could become available in the future.

Before traveling to at-risk areas, check the U.S. CDC's Travelers' Health website for active Zika Travel Health Notices to determine if your destination is at risk of Zika virus transmission.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine candidate advanced to Phase 1 clinical development

References:

PAHO 2025

US CDC - Zika

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 07:00

Image Caption:

US CDC

Severe Zika Infection Causes 13-fold Greater Mortality Risk in Children

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:13:47 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Last year, the Region of the Americas reported over 42,127 Zika virus (ZIKV) cases, many including children. Some of these young Zika patients died from severe infections in their mother's wombs or immediately after birth.

The findings of a new Original Investigation conducted in May 2024 should empower insights that develop protocols to prevent early mortality and improve child survival during Zika outbreaks.

Published in JAMA Network Open on January 23, 2025, this population-based study of mortality rates among 11.4 million children born with a severe Zika virus infection had a strikingly higher risk of overall and cause-specific mortality.

Young children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) had a 13-fold higher risk of death compared with those without CZS.

This study found the cause-specific mortality hazard ratio was 30.28.

Of 3,080 children notified as CZS cases, 444 (14.4%) died, including 154 (34.7%) from respiratory diseases, 152 (34.2%) from infectious and parasitic diseases, and 82 (18.5%) from nervous system diseases.

These researchers wrote, 'In children with CZS, dysphagia may favor the premature escape of the bolus into the pharynx, increasing the risk of death due to airway obstruction and the acquisition of respiratory infections caused by bronchoaspiration.'

'This could potentially explain the high respiratory system mortality risk. Furthermore, other factors in children with CZS, such as phrenic nerve palsy with diaphragmatic paralysis22 and seizures, can increase the risk of pulmonary aspiration, leading to respiratory failure.'

A separate study published in Pediatrics in January 2025 concluded children exposed to ZIKV in utero, even without CZS, demonstrate a greater risk for neurodevelopmental delay in early childhood, with the timing of maternal infection being a significant predictive risk factor.

Additionally, the International Journal of Infectious Diseases published a study in 2025 showing that children with CZS will have more frequent hospitalizations in early childhood. Scientists have reported that ZIKV RNA is detectable in the semen of infected men for months and is found in newborn children.

Previous research focused on the 2015–2016 ZIKV outbreak in the Region of the Americas revealed the ability of ZIKV from the Asian lineage to cause birth defects of the brain and eyes, including severe microcephaly.

In the United States, the U.S. CDC reported 19 non-congenital Zika cases in the U.S. (1 imported case in Texas) last year. In 2023, the CDC reported five non-congenital cases in U.S. residents and 27 in U.S. territories.

The CDC says Zika-spreading mosquitoes are found throughout Puerto Rico.

Currently, the best way to avoid contracting ZIKV is to avoid being bitten by a virus-carrying mosquito.

As of January 24, 2025, no approved Zika vaccines exist, but vaccine candidates are currently conducting clinical research.

Note: This article's picture was updated on Jan. 29, 2025.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine Development continues in 2025

Reference:

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, January 25, 2025 - 06:15

Image Caption:

US CDC

Most Countries Confirmed Fewer Zika Infections in 2024

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:44:43 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Since first impacting people in the Region of America in 2014, the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus has affected many people's health. According to recent reports, most countries in the Americas reported fewer Zika outbreaks in 2024.

Additionally, a second-generation Zika vaccine candidate has progressed in clinical trial development for the first time.

As of January 3, 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) confirmed the local transmission of Zika in countries and territories in the Americas region.

The PAHO reported over 41,942 ZIka cases and two related fatalities in the Americas in 2024, with the highest proportion of Zika cases reported in Brazil, Bolivia, and Columbia.

In December 2024, Brazil was the leading country reporting increased Zika cases. Brazil's Ministry of Health indicated over 40,000 cases in 2024, compared to 35,962 in 2023.

In the United States, the U.S. CDC only reported 19 non-congenital Zika cases in U.S. residents (1 imported case in Texas).

And in the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico has been categorized as having a risk of Zika virus transmission for several years. As of December 2024, 16 Zika cases have been reported, a decrease from 2023, when 43 cases were reported.

Unfortunately, the Zika virus has been reported in several of India's 16 states/union territories, such as Maharashtra, for several years, and 2024 continued this trend.

To alert international travelers, the CDC issued a Level 2—Practice Enhanced Precautions regarding India's ongoing Zika outbreak in August 2024.

The CDC says most people infected with Zika will not have symptoms or mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and red eyes. However, infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects, such as microcephaly.

From a disease prevention perspective, Valneva SE's VLA1601, a purified, inactivated, whole Zika vaccine candidate adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide, is the most advanced vaccine development in 2025.

Topline data from Valneva's phase 1 clinical trial (VLA1601-102) are expected in 2025. The company previously stated that it plans to accelerate vaccine approval discussions with government agencies like the U.S. FDA.

Sub Title:

Zika Cases in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico decreased in 2024

References:

US CDC Zika Cases 2024

Zika Travel Advisory - India

Image:

Google News Keywords:

health, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Friday, January 3, 2025 - 07:30

Image Caption:

from Pixabay 2025

Dengue Could Soon Infect 4 Billion People

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 11:29:00 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Abbott recently announced the findings from a new survey among leading infectious disease experts. The experts say significant gaps remain in surveillance programs to identify emerging pathogens impacting human health.

For example, these experts identified mosquito-borne pathogens as representing the most significant threat (61%) to people, compared to avian (21%), animal (14%), or tick-born (4%) pathogens.

Mosquito-transmitted viruses, including Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, West Nile, and Zika, have already become common in many tropical areas of Africa, the Americas, and Asia in 2024, where billions of people live.

Published on September 17, 2024, this survey predicts that about 1.3 billion people could be affected by Zika virus by 2050 and 4.8 billion by Dengue by 2080.

Furthermore, these experts fear that a novel, highly transmissible pathogen without tests, treatments, or vaccines is the factor most likely to transform a local disease outbreak into a pandemic.

"Just as scientists have developed sophisticated monitoring systems to track emerging storms and hurricanes, our job as virus hunters is to identify pathogens that have the potential to spark outbreaks in order to stay one step ahead," said Gavin Cloherty, Ph.D., head of infectious disease research at Abbott and head of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, in a press release.

"Disease surveillance acts as our radar, helping us prioritize which viruses are most likely to trigger an outbreak and where those outbreaks may occur."

While vaccines for the Zika and West Nike viruses have not been approved in 2024, a second-generation Dengue vaccine has rapidly been accepted by about 40 countries.

Takeda's QDENGA® is an approved two-dose vaccine that prevents dengue fever and/or severe Dengue caused by any of the four serotypes of the dengue virus.

Compared to first-generation Dengue vaccines, QDENGA is administered without requiring a diagnostic test.

Moreover, recent studies have found QDENGA to be very effective against disease; the vaccine is about 82% protective three months after the first dose.

Additionally, with Chikungunya cases being confirmed throughout the Region of the Americas in 2024, Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine has been U.S. FDA-approved to prevent infections.

Don Hackett, Vax-Before-Travel's publisher, says, 'These innovative vaccines substantially reduce disease burdens today and may prove this survey's experts wrong over the long term.'

In the U.S., travel vaccines are offered at various clinics and pharmacies and should be administered well before traveling abroad.

The Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition survey asked more than 100 experts in virology, epidemiology, and infectious diseases around the world about their priorities for addressing the gaps in readiness for disease outbreaks, their views on how the changing environment is impacting infectious diseases, and their suggestions for building a resilient healthcare system capable of identifying and responding to emerging disease outbreaks around the world.

Sub Title:

Mosquito-transmitted viruses such as Chikungunya and Zika are impacting human health in 2024

Reference:

Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition

Image:

Google News Keywords:

dengue, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Monday, September 30, 2024 - 06:15

Image Caption:

Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition September 2024

Two Mosquito-Transmitted Viruses Causing Microcephaly in Newborns

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:04:48 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), scientists in Brazil believe that the Oropouche virus (OROV) may cause stillbirths and neurological defects in babies who are infected in the womb, similar to the Zika virus.

Since 2013, 31 countries and territories in the Americas have reported cases of microcephaly (head shape issues) and other central nervous system malformations associated with Zika infection.

On July 12, 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Health reported four cases of microcephaly in newborns from infected mothers and one potential fetal death associated with OROV.

In this communication, Brazil also reported that, in June 2024, a retrospective analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples collected and stored for arbovirus research, which had tested negative for dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and West Nile virus.

In this study, four newborns with microcephaly were detected with IgM class antibodies against OROV in serum samples and cerebrospinal fluid.

These researchers wrote that the studies' limitations do not allow for establishing a causal relationship between OROV infection and neurological malformations.

Brazil's health ministry now recommends health professionals closely monitor pregnant people infected with Oropouche, which was initially reported in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.

In a PAHO Epidemiological Alert issued on July 17, 2024, the PAHO asked other countries to be on the lookout for similar cases. For example, in May 2024, Cuba's Ministry of Public Health reported 74 Oropouche cases.

These OROV cases are similar to those during Brazil's previous and ongoing Zika outbreaks. As of July 2024, Brazil has reported over 24,000 Zika cases this year.

Additionally, Zika cases have been confirmed in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica in 2024.

From a prevention perspective, no U.S. FDA-approved vaccines targeting Zika and Oropouche viruses are available in 2024.

However, Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

In March 2024, Valneva SE announced initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of VLA1601, its second-generation adjuvanted inactivated vaccine candidate against Zika.

Sub Title:

Oropouche and Zika viruses vertical transmission investigated

References:

PAHO - Epidemiological Alert Oropouche in the Region of the Americas

Brazil - Technical Note No. 15/2024-SVSA/MS

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - 06:00

Image Caption:

US CDC Brazil Zika 2024

Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya Co-Infections Reported

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 17:13:49 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

At least two Zika patients have reported co-infection of chikungunya and dengue in Pune, India. The Times of India reported on July 5, 2024, that an official from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) told the media that Pune City is a hotspot for vector-borne diseases.

Therefore, co-infections with chikungunya and dengue are not entirely out of the blue. However, their severity can be debatable, says the NIV.

Previously, several individuals, including pregnant women in Erandwane, India, were confirmed with Zika virus infections in June-July 2024.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says rare co-infections have been identified. Given the similar clinical features and lack of concurrent testing, Zika, chikungunya, and dengue co-infections might not be identified.

The CDC concluded in a February 2024 analysis that the frequency of Zika reinfections remains uncertain. A study emphasizes the critical role of ongoing genomic surveillance in viral infections to enhance public health interventions.

This under-diagnosis creates health risks for people, such as Zika, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause congenital disabilities such as microcephaly.

In the Region of the Americas, over 24,000 Zika cases have been reported this year, primarily in Brazil.

As of July 6, 2024, no approved Zika vaccines exist, but newer versions for chikungunya and dengue are available in certain countries.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical trials in 2024

References:

Zika outbreaks 2024

CDC - Zika Virus Reinfection by Genome Diversity and Antibody Response Analysis, Brazil

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccines, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Sunday, July 7, 2024 - 05:15

Image Caption:

ECDC Zika case map 2024

Zika Infects Pregnant Women in Pune

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:57:34 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

According to ANI reporting today, two pregnant women in Erandwane, India, have been confirmed with Zika virus cases infections.

As of July 2, 2024, Dr. Kalpana Baliwant, health officer for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated that among the 25 Zika samples collected, 12 were from Erandwane, including seven from pregnant women, including the two pregnant women.

An additional 13 samples were collected from Mundhwa, with no reports of pregnant women testing positive during this Zika outbreak.

The PMC launched fumigating programs in late June 2024 and urges citizens to follow the guidelines and take necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites that further the spread of the Zika virus.

Since 2016, the Zika virus has been reported in 16 different Indian states and union territories.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects, such as microcephaly, which is a rare congenital disability that causes a baby's head to be smaller than usual.

Extensive Zika virus outbreaks occurred in the Americas between 2015 and 2016 but generally receded.

As of July 2024, the CDC says mosquitoes spreading Zika are found in the Region of the Americas, including Puerto Rico.

As of July 2024, 16 Zika cases have been reported in the San Juan, PR area. In 2023, 43 Zika virus cases were reported in PR.

The Puerto Rico Department of Health says Zika will continue to infect people.

The U.S. CDC, Canada, and the United Kingdom say that if you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas reporting Zika cases.

As of July 2024, there are no approved Zika vaccines. However, vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccines are conducting clinical study in 2024

References:

Pune India MC

US CDC Zika 2024

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - 06:00

Image Caption:

US CDC Zika geographic risk classification map May 15, 2024

Over 24,000 Zika Cases Confirmed in 2024

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 20:19:32 +0000

Reviewer:

Holly Lutmer PharmD

Robert Carlson, MD

Ever since 1947, when the Zika virus was first detected, people have been getting infected with this disease. In 2024, both Zika outbreaks and the development of preventive vaccines have accelerated.

Autochthonous mosquito-borne transmission of Zika has been detected in 89 countries and territories globally.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on June 3, 2024, the map of countries with Zika transmission and the list of countries with Zika and vectors has been updated to reflect changes since the last WHO epidemiologic update in 2022.

According to the WHO, there is scientific consensus that Zika is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Since 2013, 31 countries and territories have reported cases of microcephaly and other central nervous system malformations associated with ZIKV infection.

As of June 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has confirmed 25,470 ZIka cases in the Americas in 2024. In 2023, the PAHO reported 55,813 Zika cases.

Over the past two years, Brazil (24,171) has accounted for about 90% of Zika cases recorded in the Americas.

In the United States, 16 Zika cases have been reported in the San Juan, Puerto Rico area in 2024. There were 43 Zika virus cases reported in 2023.

From a prevention perspective, no Zika vaccine has been approved as of June 20, 2024. Since 2016, approximately $350 million of research funding for a Zika vaccine has been mobilized

However, several Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research.

For example, Valneva SE announced initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of VLA1601, its second-generation adjuvanted inactivated vaccine candidate against the Zika virus (ZIKV).

The randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial, VLA1601-102, is planned to enroll approximately 150 participants aged 18 to 49 years in the U.S.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Valneva's Chief Medical Officer, said in a press release in March 2024, “Valneva'scommitment to our vision—to live in a world in which no one dies or suffers from a vaccine-preventable disease—fuels our pursuit for preparedness solutions against the Zika virus.

"As global temperatures rise and rainfall increases, the habitat for disease-carrying mosquitoes expands, presenting an ongoing public health challenge.”

Other Zika vaccine candidates are listed here.

Sub Title:

VLA1601 is a highly purified inactivated vaccine candidate against the Zika virus

References:

WHO Zika epidemiology update - May 2024

ECDC - Zika virus disease - Annual Epidemiological Report

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Friday, June 21, 2024 - 06:15

Image Caption:

WHO Zika case map June 3, 2024

Pregnant Women Should Avoid Zika Outbreaks

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 28 May 2024 22:06:17 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The current incidence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) is low globally; it has not disappeared. Significant outbreaks are continuing in 2024, especially in countries such as Brazil.

Unfortunately, no approved Zika vaccines are available.

This Meeting Report published by the journal npj Vaccines on May 24, 2024, presents the continuing development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the ZIKV. These experts say offering Zika immunity products remains a public health priority, especially for women who can become pregnant and who live or travel in ZIKV-endemic regions.

Additionally, ZIKV infections are linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy, and myelitis in both children and adults.

The recent report confirmed that studies have provided substantial proof of concept that antibodies and vaccines can protect against congenital ZIKV infection. In the same model, two mAbs did not eliminate maternal viremia but did limit vertical transmission, protecting the fetus from neurological damage.

Similarly, human IgG treatment controlled Zika viremia in pregnant rhesus macaques.

These researchers wrote, 'Determining clinical and safety endpoints beyond symptomatic infection for Phase III trials will be important and key to encouraging vaccine uptake and using mAbs for prophylaxis and/or treatment.'

Previously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated clinical management recommendations that confirmed during pregnancy, healthcare providers can monitor the fetus for signs of congenital Zika infection.

For pregnant women with confirmed or possible Zika infection, serial fetal ultrasounds (every 3–4 weeks) should be considered. This is to assess fetal anatomy, particularly fetal neuroanatomy, and to monitor growth closely.

Prenatal ultrasounds should include detailed fetal anatomy to detect brain or associated structural abnormalities that might occur before microcephaly.

Furthermore, as the spreading of Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes accelerates, the health risk is expanding.

As of 2023, autochthonous mosquito-borne transmission of ZIKV has been detected in 89 countries and territories.

Over the last three years, an average of 35 cases have been reported annually in the U.S. territories, with recent cases in Puerto Rico.

As of May 28, 2024, CDC Travel Health Advisories recommend pregnant women should speak with a healthcare provider before visiting Zika outbreaks.

Sub Title:

Zika vaccines and monoclonal antibodies remain a global priority

References:

Continuing development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against Zika virus

CDC - Clinical Considerations for Pregnant Persons with Possible Zika Virus Infection

Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 05:15

Image Caption:

from Pixabay

Zika and Microcephaly Return in 2024

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 03 May 2024 21:17:35 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Although the Zika virus (ZIKV) has been known since 2007, outbreaks have not been in the news much in 2024.

Since the confirmation of a ZIKV outbreak in Brazil in March 2015, many countries in the Region of the Americas have been affected.

According to the data dashboard of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), as of May 3, 2024, over 6,878 Zika cases have been reported in the Americas this year.

While this number of cases is still alarming, it is fewer than the 55,813 cases reported in 2023.

Unfortunately, Brazil continues leading the Americas with over 6,599 Zika cases in 2024.

In the United States, Puerto Rico has reported 3 Zika cases in the San Juan area this year. In 2023, 43 Zika virus cases were reported.

According to the PAHO, most people recover from a ZIKV infection. However, congenital Zika is a devastating and frequent consequence of maternal Zika virus infections.

Northeast Brazil was the first region to detect a significant increase in babies born with microcephaly associated with prenatal ZIKV infection.

Since then, children battling the effects of microcephaly have been detected throughout Brazil.

The results of a ZBC-Consortium meta-analysis in 2023 provide robust estimates of the risk of adverse events in children born to pregnant women who were infected with ZIKV during pregnancy.

According to the study findings, microcephaly was observed in 1.5% of children at birth, with severe microcephaly being less frequent than mild/moderate microcephaly.

Furthermore, even though some children are born with an average head circumference for their age and sex, they may develop postnatal microcephaly, which implies the need to monitor these children and repeat head circumference measurements.

It was also demonstrated that the risk of children being born small for gestational age was more significant than the risk reported for the general population.

The study authors noted that the risk of microcephaly did not vary in different regions of Brazil or with socioeconomic conditions.

They concluded this mosquito-transmitted disease infects people indiscriminately.

If and when a Zika vaccine candidate is approved, its introduction needs to take into account geographic needs, as well as those at the highest risk... children.

Sub Title:

6,878 ZIka cases confirmed in the Americas as of May 2024

References:

Zika Outbreaks 2024

Brazilian Response to the Microcephaly Epidemic: A Meta-analysis

Image:

Google News Keywords:

Zika, vaccinations

Featured:

Fact checked:

Saturday, May 4, 2024 - 05:45

Image Caption:

PAHO 2024