Maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Brenna L. Hughes, MD, chief of the Women's Infectious Diseases Consultative Service at Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England hospital, and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, joined a panel discussion Wednesday at Brown University’s Watson Institute, to discuss the Zika virus. The panel also included Dr. Rebecca Reece, medical consultant, Rhode Island Department of Health Division of Preparedness, Response, Infectious Disease, and Emergency Medical Services, and clinical assistant professor of medicine, Alpert Medical School; Mark Lurie, associate professor, epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health; and Dr. Maria Mileno, associate professor of medicine, Alpert Medical School.
Dr. Hughes focused her portion of the discussion on the testing and unconfirmed correlation being made between the Zika virus and birth defects. Dr. Hughes expressed that there are more unknowns than knowns at this time when it comes to Zika and pregnancy. "We do not know how Zika attacks fetuses to cause microcephaly," said Dr. Hughes. Due to the high amount of uncertainties, it was stressed further that those who are pregnant or trying to be become pregnant should postpone or not travel at all to those regions considered high-risk zones. If travel is required, careful attention to preventing mosquito bites is necessary.
Dr. Hughes also addressed the notion of mothers who may contract Zika virus, have an infant, and are not sure about continuing breastfeeding at the risk of infecting the child. “At this point, the CDC believes that the benefits of breast milk outweigh the possible effects of the virus if infected with Zika,” said Dr. Hughes.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends all pregnant women who have traveled to endemic areas be offered Zika blood tests and ultrasounds. However, Dr. Hughes is concerned about the testing burden for the CDC caused by an influx of patients, but hopes to get a clearer picture this from the Rhode Island Department of Health as the testing recommendations roll out locally.
Copyright © 2023 Care New England Health System