Pregnancy outcomes in mothers with a history of travel to a country with active Zika transmission
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging viral infection with increasing transmission in South and Central America and the Caribbean over the past few months.
Even though not yet scientifically proven, a causal relationship between ZIKV infection in pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected.
This study will describe the risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome related to infection with ZIKV during pregnancy.
March 2016 – February 2017
Since early 2015 when Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first reported in Brazil, ZIVK has rapidly spread over most countries in South and Central America, the Caribbean and countries outside this region. An unusually high number of babies born with microcephaly were reported in Brazil, six months after the rapid increase of cases of ZIKV infection, concentrated particularly in those areas with high rates of the disease. The high numbers of cases are likely to be an overestimate due to case ascertainment; however they are considerable and thus were declared as Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO in February 2016. Even though not yet scientifically proven, a causal relationship between ZIKV infection in pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected. Two babies with microcephaly and confirmed ZIKV infection of mothers resident in countries without active ZIKV but who had travelled to Brazil during their pregnancy have been reported to date.
Almost 1.4 million UK residents travelled to South and Central America and the Caribbean on average each year between 2010 and 2014, 25% of those are women of child bearing age.
This study will carry out national surveillance in the UK, to assess the risk of having an adverse pregnancy outcome after travel to a country with active Zika transmission
To use the UK Obstetric Surveillance System to describe the risk of congenital abnormalities in pregnant women with a history of travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission
What is the risk of fetal congenital abnormalities associated with travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission?
What is the number of cases of fetal congenital abnormalities associated with travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission in the UK over a period of 12 months?
What are the typical features of this condition?
How does it present in relation to time of infection during pregnancy?
Are there any other adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission?
Two case definitions will be added to the reporting card
Any pregnant woman with a history of travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission during pregnancy or 4 weeks before conception and no adverse pregnancy outcome.
Any pregnant woman with a history of travel to a country with active ZIKV transmission during pregnancy or 4 weeks before conception where a fetal abnormality has been detected or miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or termination of pregnancy occurred.
Reporters are requested to report the numbers of women in their unit who fall into either category. Detailed data will only be requested on women with an adverse pregnancy outcome at this stage i.e. UKOSS will only collect numbers of women falling into group 1; reporting clinicians will not be requested to complete a data collection form. Data collection forms will be sent for completion of further details about women in group 2.