739 Zika Virus Cases in Brazil and 2 adult deaths - How Zika Virus is causing birth defects in unborn Brazilian babies

Zika Virus is dangerous after all!

Reports are now surfacing from the Brazilian Health ministry that suggest that persons infected with Zika Virus are giving birth to babies with birth defects as reported in the article “Zika Virus linked to birth defects in Brazil”, published November 30, 2015, The Jamaica Gleaner.  

Specifically, it's causing micro-encephalitis, an inflammation of the brains of babies in the first few months of pregnancy. The baby girl, who lives in the Ceara state had eventually died, effectively making her death attributable to the Zika Virus as noted in the article “Brazil links Zika virus to birth defects”, published Monday, November 30, 2015, The Jamaica Observer.

This is very big discovery as even the BBC World Service has it covered as reported in the article “Brazil links Zika fever to birth defects”, published November 30th 2015, BBC News. Already scientists from the CDC (Centers for disease control) are in Brazil examining the body of the baby killed by micro-encephalitis to determine the link between the condition and  Zika Virus.

Btu what exactly is micro-encephalitis?

Zika Virus causes micro-encephalitis in Babies - 739 Zika Virus Cases in Brazil and 2 adult deaths

Microcephaly is a condition where the size of an infant’s head is smaller than normal due to  slowed or incomplete brain development as note in the article “CARIBBEAN: CARPHA continues to appeal to persons to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes”, published November 30, 2015, St. Lucia Online.

The condition is usually hereditary but it can also occur in the fetus is exposed to infection contracted in the first few months of pregnancy. Brazilian doctors had found traces of the Zika Virus in the blood and tissues doctors of a baby with micro-encephalitis.

So far Brazil has not been faring well against the Zika Virus as noted in the article “Brazil finds Zika Virus causes deformities in babies”, published November 29, 2015, Medical Xpress:

1.      739 cases

2.      2 adult deaths

So what does this really mean? And can this potentially happen in Jamaica!?

Brazil discovers Zika Virus causes micro-encephalitis in babies – How Zika is now a Baby Killer

Brazil become the first country in the world, actually to recognize that people have actually died from a disease that was perceived to be milder version of the chikungunya Virus. The Zika Virus is related to the Virus that causes Dengue Fever and it is even transmitted by the same mosquito.

Worse, it may already be in Jamaica as CARPA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) has confirmed that there are already five (5) cases is in the Caribbean, possibly in Jamaica as predicted in my blog article entitled “CARPHA's 5 Cases of Zika Virus might be Jamaica - Why Zap-a-‘quito needed to educate people about Zika Virus”.

The symptoms manifest within three (3) to twelve (12) days after the first bite by an infected Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Symptoms will last for four (4) to seven (7) days after the initial infection. The infected experience mild Chikungunya-like symptoms that last for up to four (4) weeks or longer:

1.      Conjunctivitis

2.      Fever

3.      Headache

4.      Joint and muscle pain

5.      Rash

6.      Swelling of the lower limbs

7.      Weakness

A diet rich in Vitamin C will boost your immune system against the debilitating effect of the Zika Virus as explained in my blog article entitled “Vitamin C and the Chikungunya Virus - How to increase your Vitamin C Intake, Glutathione and Interferon by White Blood Cells”. 

However, this latest bit of news proves that babies in the womb can now be added to the list of those susceptible to the Zika Virus as they too have weak immune system i.e. babies, children suffering from an illness or elderly persons with other health problems.

It was easy for the Ministry of Health to deny that people died from Chikunguyunya Virus back in 2014 as reported in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Chikungunya Deaths – 14 Deaths in Jamaica, 183 in the Caribbean with Young, Healthy Deaths difficult to explain”.

It'll be a lot harder this time around when the Zika Virus finally comes to Jamaica, possibly by the First Quarter of 2016!

Here’s the link:

CARPHA Yard Poster