The National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with the scientific research organization Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, began a multi-country study on Tuesday to evaluate the magnitude of the health risks that Zika virus infection poses on pregnant women and their developing fetuses and infants.
Zika virus is spread primarily through mosquito bites, through sexual transmission and from mother-to-child during gestation. Currently, more than 60 countries and territories have confirmed cases in patients. The virus has been linked to a spike in cases of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and possible neurological damage, sparking international concern.
The “Zika in Infants and Pregnancy (ZIP)” study aims to enroll 10,000 pregnant women ages 15 and older at up to 15 sites across the globe. Participants will be in their first trimester of pregnancy and will be followed throughout their pregnancies to determine if they become infected with Zika virus and, if so, what outcomes result for both the mother and child. Participant children will be carefully followed for at least one year after birth to determine any long-term abnormalities that may arise.
“Zika virus has spread rapidly through the Americas,” Catherine Y. Spong, acting director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said. “We anticipate that this study will provide important information on the link between Zika infection and pregnancy complications and inform strategies to help safeguard the health of mothers and their newborns.”