Research: 1% the probability of birth of a baby with microcephaly due to Ζίκα

About one pregnant woman out of 100, from those infected with the virus Ζίκα during the first trimester of pregnancy, could give birth to a baby with microcephaly, according to a new French scientific research. The study comes to reinforce fears that the virus responsible for the increased incidence μικροκεφαλίας in particular in Brazil, although it considers that the risk is relatively small in relation to other infections of pregnant women from other micro-organisms.
The researchers, led by Simon Κοσεμέζ of the Pasteur Institute, who made the relevant publication in the medical journal “The Lancet”, studied the effects of a virus outbreak Ζίκα in French Polynesia between 2013-14, during which there have been eight incidents μικροκεφαλίας (of these, five pregnancies were terminated prematurely, and three babies were born).
The French scientists, however, appeared skeptical whether the same relatively small percentage of risk in force in other countries. A preliminary research from brazilian scientists raises the risk rate to over 20%, so there is great discrepancy in the estimates of researchers so far.
In any case, it is certain that more research is needed on the biological mechanisms that may link the virus Ζίκα with microcephaly. The World Health Organization already advises pregnant women in the countries where it is endemic the virus, be protected from the mosquitoes that are the carriers.
The new epidemic began in Brazil in 2014. Since then spreads rapidly to the rest of America and they have already been reported cases in 31 countries. Brazil has confirmed more than 580 cases of μικροκεφαλίας, while other 4.100 are under investigation. Most cases are believed to be related with the virus Ζίκα.
In Europe and in America the timeless prevalence μικροκεφαλίας (birth of a child with abnormally small head and small brain) is about two babies per 10,000 births. The children suffer from mental retardation, speech problems and behavior. Apart from the virus Ζίκα, microcephaly attributed to genetic or environmental causes, including other prenatal infections (e.x. herpes or ρουμπέλα), excessive use of alcohol by the mother, disorders hypertension etc.