Microcephaly in Infants, Pernambuco State, Brazil, 2015

Abstract

We studied the clinical characteristics for 104 infants born with microcephaly in the delivery hospitals of Pernambuco State, Brazil, during 2015. Testing is ongoing to exclude known infectious causes. However, microcephaly peaked in October and demonstrated central nervous system abnormalities with brain dysgenesis and intracranial calcifications consistent with an intrauterine infection.

Keywords: Brazil; Microcephaly; Zika virus; disease outbreaks; infants; vector-borne infections; viruses.

Figure 1

Microcephaly cases (based on Fenton growth chart criteria) at 2 referral hospitals, by week of birth, Pernambuco State, Brazil, 2015 (N = 104).

Figure 2

Microcephaly, Pernambuco State, Brazil, 2015. A) Two newborns in whom microcephaly was diagnosed during the epidemic. B) Brain computed tomography scan of a 43-day-old infant showing cerebellar hypoplasia, parenchymal calcifications, ventriculomegaly, and malformation of cortical development compatible with lissencephaly.