Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Zika's Not Just 'Last Year's Problem': Sobering Report Details Virus's Effects On U.S. Women
The New York Times: One In 10 Pregnant Women With Zika In U.S. Have Babies With Birth Defects
One in 10 pregnant women in the continental United States with a confirmed Zika infection had a baby with brain damage or other serious birth defects, according to the most comprehensive report to date on American pregnancies during the Zika crisis. (Belluck, 4/4)
The Washington Post: Zika Poses Even Greater Risk For Birth Defects Than Was Previously Known, CDC Reports
Women infected during the first trimester of pregnancy had an even higher risk of birth defects, about 15 percent, according to the analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These estimates are higher than what U.S. health officials have previously reported and underscore the serious risk for birth defects posed by Zika virus infection during pregnancy. With warm weather, a new mosquito season and summer travel approaching, prevention is crucial to protecting the health of mothers and babies, said Anne Schuchat, the CDC's acting director. (Sun, 4/4)
NPR: 51 Babies Born With Zika-Related Birth Defects In The U.S. In 2016
"Although Zika may seem like last year's problem, or an issue confined to Brazil, there have been more than 1,600 cases in pregnant women reported here in the U.S.," says the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anne Schuchat. (Doucleff, 4/4)
CQ Roll Call: Birth Defects Present In 5 Percent Of Zika Babies, CDC Finds
About 5 percent of infants born to women who were exposed to the Zika virus while pregnant in 2016 had birth defects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. The study of U.S. pregnancies affected by the virus is the largest of its kind in the short time that Zika has been a priority for national researchers. The CDC hopes it will send a message about the risks posed to pregnant women who travel to areas with active Zika transmission. (Siddons, 4/4)
The Miami Herald: Yes, You Should Be Wearing Insect Repellent To Help Prevent The Spread Of Zika
Stephanie Milbhauer is four and a half months pregnant with her third child and is seriously considering “temporarily relocating” to her family home in Ohio as the rainy season approaches and the Zika virus is expected to resurface. (Teproff, 4/4)
