The CDC on Friday outlined updated guidance for providers treating infants with possible congenital Zika syndrome in its most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
While the number of U.S. Zika cases for 2017 dropped considerably from the year prior — 311 cases compared to 5,102 — CDC health officials maintain the virus still poses a significant health risk to pregnant women and their infants.
Here are five things to know.
1. The updated guidance divides possibly affected infants into three categories: infants born with birth defects consistent with congenital Zika syndrome to mothers with possible Zika virus exposure during pregnancy, infants with birth defects born to mothers with laboratory confirmed evidence of maternal Zika infection and children without defects born to mothers with evidence of possible Zika exposure.
2. The guidance update removes previously recommended screenings — such as thyroid and hearing screenings — at four to six months of age due to a lack of evidence regarding their benefits.
3. For infants with likely congenital Zika syndrome, providers should document and monitor the occurrence of other health issues potentially related to Zika exposure not yet officially associated with the syndrome.
4. Infants not displaying birth defects consistent with Zika exposure born to mothers with laboratory confirmed evidence of Zika infection should have their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.
5. Congenital Zika syndrome can include a host of birth defects such as brain abnormalities, vision problems, hearing loss and problems moving limbs. Additionally, newborns with possible Zika exposure who appear healthy at birth may have underlying brain or developmental defects that manifest as the child gets older. As of Sept. 13, more than 1,900 women with possible Zika virus have given birth since… . CDC officials have confirmed birth defects in more than 100 of the pregnancies.
"There's a lot we still don't know about Zika, so it's very important for us to keep a close eye on these babies as they develop," said Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, director of the CDC. "Learning how best to support them will require a team approach between healthcare providers and families."
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