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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 11 2016 – The Ministry of Health is in the process of carrying out an assessment to determine if there are cases of a new condition linked to the mosquito borne Zika virus.
On Monday, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, reported that some babies infected with the Zika virus in the womb, have development arthrogryposis – a rare birth defect involving muscle weakness and stiff joints.
The report suggests that the defect is linked to the Zika virus infection in pregnancy.
In responding to the report, Jamaica’s acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Winston De La Haye, told Radio Jamaica that an assessment is being carried out locally.
“This is of interest to us, recognizing that we have a number of pregnant women who are suspected as having Zika. We are interested as we move forward and recognise that the neurological conditions may be well beyond microcephaly but may well encompass other neurological illnesses and developmental illnesses,” he said.
Infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy has already been found to cause the birth defect microcephaly in which the child has an abnormally small brain and head.
In the case of arthrogryposis, the babies have restricted movement in some of their joints and sometimes the joints are stuck in a single position.
Researches have so far analysed information from seven babies, born in Brazil, who had arthrogryposis.
