Third adult death confirmed related to Zika virus
The Ministry of Health released an update Thursday (Feb. 11) confirming the third death of an adult caused by Zika virus in Brazil. The death occurred in April 2015, but the test results have come out now. The patient was 20 years old and lived in Rio Grande do Norte state.
The first confirmed Zika-related death in the country happened in November 2015. It was a 35-year-old man who lived in São Luís, Maranhão, with a history of lupus, long-term corticosteroid therapy, rheumatoid arthritis, and alcoholism. Since Lupus impacts the immune system, he became vulnerable to infection with Zika virus.
The second case was also confirmed in November, with a 16-year-old who died in October in the Amazon state of Pará. The original hypothesis was dengue. After infection with Zika virus, the patient had severe thrombocytopenic purpura and haemorrhage.
Most Zika-related deaths in Brazil occurred in babies with microcephaly. According to the latest update from the Ministry of Health, out of 76 deaths reported after childbirth or at pregnancy, 15 were investigated and confirmed for microcephaly or other central nervous system abnormalities, with Zika virus detected in the fetal tissue in five of the cases. Another 56 cases are being investigated, and five suspected cases were ruled out.
The ministry has confirmed 404 cases of microcephaly or other central nervous system disorders in the country, out of which 17 are related to Zika virus. Another 709 potential cases of microcephaly have been ruled out, with 3,670 other cases now under investigation—which s for 76.7% of notified cases. The figures include cases reported until January 30.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Third adult death confirmed related to Zika virus
