The fact that more than 4,100 cases of microcephaly have been reported in the same areas where the Zika virus has infected thousands of people in Brazil doesn’t mean much to the United States Department of Health. That government organization recently said the fact that microcephaly cases have risen by more than 2,000 percent in Brazil doesn’t mean that the babies born with brain damage and small heads are products of the Zika virus. That may be true if other microcephaly causes are present. Dr. Cortes told R7.com that the Department of Health is trying to control the fear factor related to the pending Zika virus outbreak, but it won’t work. There is too much field evidence in Brazil and in other countries to dispute the evidence that Zika can infiltrate the brains of fetuses and cause microcephaly.
The Department of Health dispelled reports on Noticias R7 after the Philippines reported an increase in microcephaly cases along with a rise in Zika virus infections. The half-hearted assurance from the DOH goes against the research that has been done by Brazilian, French and U.S. researchers. Microcephaly is one of the complications of a Zika virus infection. But in a LinkedIn post, Dr. Cortes said not all pregnant women infected with Zika virus give birth to babies with microcephaly. Researchers are trying to pinpoint the exact time in a pregnancy that could produce microcephaly, but so far that information is still a question mark.
There are other causes of microcephaly, according to a Dr. Cortes Facebook post. Eating undercooked meat is one cause. Herpes, rubella, HIV infection, severe malnutrition during pregnancy and extreme stress by the expected mother can also cause microcephaly. According to a Cortes tweet, the Zika virus should be added to that list. Other issues like being exposed to heavy metals like arsenic and mercury could be bring on microcephaly in fetuses. In short, there are a number of issues that can cause the disease.
Even though the DOH is dispelling reports that Zika causes microcephaly, the agency is warning pregnant women to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, and the DOH also suggests having safe sex if a partner has been to a country that is experiencing an Zika virus outbreak.
Only 20 percent of people infected with virus show symptoms, but they can be contagious since the Zika virus settles in the semen, urine, and saliva of infected individuals.
Dr. Sergio Cortes recommends a proactive approach to the Zika epidemic that is working its way to the United States. But because government agencies can’t agree on the facts that have been reported by other countries, the probability of the United States having more Zika victims than Brazil is very high.