The suspicion was strong, that is confirmed with certainty by researchers: Zika virus, transmitted by the tiger mosquito, may cause microcephaly and other brain abnormalities in a fetus born to an infected mother.
An infected pregnant woman, Zika virus can affect brain development of the fetus and cause severe malformations, including microcephaly, that is to say an abnormally small skull. This link, repeatedly raised and that has divided the scientific community, has been definitively established by researchers from the US Centers for control and disease prevention (CDC).
The study was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. This confirmation is based on the analysis of the main recently published work suggesting that Zika virus was involved. One of them had thus demonstrated the presence of Zika in amniotic fluid. Another showed that Zika virus was capable of infecting stem cells giving rise to the cerebral cortex.
"These epidemiological, clinical and molecular have each produced new information that helped us solve the puzzle," said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC.
All fetuses will not suffer from cerebral malformations
The researchers wanted to clarify one important point: all pregnant women infected with the virus will not give birth to a child with a brain malformation. Why do some fetuses are they affected and not others? Another question: is there a period of pregnancy at risk? Research continues in this direction, and new studies were initiated.
Zika virus is transmitted sexually
For pregnant or having a project of pregnancy women who must travel to an area affected by the epidemic or live there, it is recommended to adopt more stringent protective measures against mosquitoes: wear protective clothing and use repellents adapted in accordance with the precautions related to pregnancy.
Especially, we must avoid unprotected sex: it was confirmed that the Zika virus is transmitted sexually.
The men infected with the virus, it is recommended that they use condoms during six months of the start of infection. still in effect is not known how long the virus remains in the semen