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| C.D.C. Reports 234 Pregnant Women in U.S. With Zika | C.D.C. Reports 234 Pregnant Women in U.S. With Zika |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The number of women infected with the Zika virus during their pregnancy in the continental United States has risen to 234, health officials said on Thursday. | |
| Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to say how many of the women had given birth, citing confidentiality concerns for the women and their families. But they did cite six cases with abnormalities — three babies with birth defects and another three babies who died before birth with evidence of defects. | Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to say how many of the women had given birth, citing confidentiality concerns for the women and their families. But they did cite six cases with abnormalities — three babies with birth defects and another three babies who died before birth with evidence of defects. |
| The numbers raised more questions than answers. Without knowing the total number of births it is impossible to know if the babies with birth defects represented a tiny fraction of the total, or a large part. The agency said some of the defects were related to microcephaly, a condition linked to Zika that causes brain damage and abnormally small heads. Others, like eye problems, were Zika-related, but not caused by microcephaly. | |
| Dr. Denise J. Jamieson, one of the leaders of the pregnancy and birth defects team, which is part of the C.D.C.’s Zika virus response team, said the release of the numbers was the first in what will now be weekly updates on birth outcomes in Zika pregnancies. She said that as the number of births rises, the agency would be able to release more detailed information. | Dr. Denise J. Jamieson, one of the leaders of the pregnancy and birth defects team, which is part of the C.D.C.’s Zika virus response team, said the release of the numbers was the first in what will now be weekly updates on birth outcomes in Zika pregnancies. She said that as the number of births rises, the agency would be able to release more detailed information. |
| “We’re sort of in a hard place,” Dr. Jamieson said. “We can’t provide a lot of information about where these women are in their pregnancy. We don’t want to inadvertently disclose information about difficult decisions these women are making about their pregnancies.” | “We’re sort of in a hard place,” Dr. Jamieson said. “We can’t provide a lot of information about where these women are in their pregnancy. We don’t want to inadvertently disclose information about difficult decisions these women are making about their pregnancies.” |
| She said the numbers included the nine pregnant women the C.D.C. had reported on in February. Of those, at least one baby was born with microcephaly. | She said the numbers included the nine pregnant women the C.D.C. had reported on in February. Of those, at least one baby was born with microcephaly. |
| The C.D.C. also reported on Thursday that the total number of pregnant women who had been infected with Zika in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is 189. But the agency did not report birth outcomes for that group. | The C.D.C. also reported on Thursday that the total number of pregnant women who had been infected with Zika in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is 189. But the agency did not report birth outcomes for that group. |
| “Microcephalic babies are beginning to be born,” Dr. Jamieson said. “The disease seems to be very similar no matter where it is.” | “Microcephalic babies are beginning to be born,” Dr. Jamieson said. “The disease seems to be very similar no matter where it is.” |
| Dr. Jamieson said some of the microcephalic births they are seeing are among women who were symptomless for the Zika virus, a troubling pattern. Roughly 80 percent of people who contract the virus never display symptoms. | Dr. Jamieson said some of the microcephalic births they are seeing are among women who were symptomless for the Zika virus, a troubling pattern. Roughly 80 percent of people who contract the virus never display symptoms. |
| She estimated that the approximate risk of having a baby with birth defects — based on findings from Brazil, Colombia and other countries, including the United States – was between 1 percent and 15 percent. | |
| A study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine found no cases of microcephaly among infants born to women in Colombia who were infected in the third trimester of pregnancy. | A study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine found no cases of microcephaly among infants born to women in Colombia who were infected in the third trimester of pregnancy. |
| “The pattern we are seeing in other places is the same as in U.S. travelers — that Zika is causing birth defects is real,” she said. “It’s not confined to one location or one time period.” | “The pattern we are seeing in other places is the same as in U.S. travelers — that Zika is causing birth defects is real,” she said. “It’s not confined to one location or one time period.” |