The association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in Brazil 2015-2017: An observational analysis of over 4 million births.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2015, high rates of microcephaly were reported in Northeast Brazil following the first South American Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak. Reported microcephaly rates in other Zika-affected areas were significantly lower, suggesting alternate causes or the involvement of arboviral cofactors in exacerbating microcephaly rates.

Methods and findings

We merged data from multiple national reporting databases in Brazil to estimate exposure to 9 known or hypothesized causes of microcephaly for every pregnancy nationwide since the beginning of the ZIKV outbreak; this generated between 3.6 and 5.4 million cases (depending on analysis) over the time period 1 January 2015-23 May 2017. The association between ZIKV and microcephaly was statistically tested against models with altern

SUBMITTER: Brady OJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6400331 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature