Mum-to-be terminates pregnancy after contracting horror virus found in Europe that made baby’s head abnormally small
A MUM-to-be was forced to terminate her pregnancy at 26 weeks after catching a virus spotted Europe, which caused her baby’s head to be abnormally small.
Though the woman only suffered mild symptoms from the illness, the virus infected her little one through the womb and caused “severe microcephaly”.
The mum, from Denmark, went on holiday to Phuket in Thailand with her partner for three weeks between March and April last year.
At the time she was in her first trimester of pregnancy, about eight to 10 weeks along.
As the couple travelled around the province and visited popular tourist sites and beaches in Mueang and Kathu, the woman made sure to apply mosquito repellent.
However, she still noticed a few mozzie bites and started to feel unwell 12 days into the trip.
She experienced mild illness, nausea, loss of appetite and fatigue for a day, breaking out into a bumpy rash on her torso, arms and legs two days later
It was later revealed that she’d contracted Zika virus, a illness spread by the bites of infected mozzies that are rife in parts of Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and Africa.
But the virus – which causes mild illness in most but can be dangerous to pregnant people – has also previously been spotted in European holiday hotspots.
Asian tiger and Asian bush mosquitoes – which carry Zika and other dangerous viruses – have made themselves at home in as many as 13 European countries, increasing the risk of exotic diseases.
The mum had been unaware of the risk of Zika virus to her baby and initial scans and blood samples she got after returning from her trip showed no cause for concern.
A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said: “All routine tests showed unremarkable results.
“The subsequent routine second trimester ultrasound examination also was unremarkable, including appropriate foetal biometrics, and no signs of any anomalies.”
It wasn’t until week 26 of her pregnancy that alarm bells were sounded.
The mum-to-be underwent an extra growth scan after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which showed that her baby’s head was “substantially” smaller that it should be at that point.
After undergoing further tests, it was decided that the pregnancy needed to be terminated “because of severe microcephaly”.
Blood samples from the mum and tissue samples from the baby were sent to the national Virology Reference Laboratory at Statens Serum Institut for testing.
Traces if Zika virus were “strongly detected in the fetal brain and weakly detected in maternal serum”, according to the CDC report.
Contracting Zika virus infection has been linked “to serious pregnancy complications, called congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), including miscarriage and birth defects, particularly if the mother is infected during the first trimester”, it added.
“Although most Zika virus infections in pregnancy are asymptomatic, the virus can transfer vertically from mother to child, and the estimated risk for transfer is 10 to 30 per cent.”
Signs of Zika virus
Most people have few or no symptoms if they get Zika virus.
If you do have symptoms, they’re usually mild and last around two to seven days.
The most common symptoms include:
- A high temperature
- A headache
- Sore, red eyes
- Swollen joints and joint and muscle pain
- A rash and itching all over the body
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you’ve recently travelled to a country with a Zika virus risk and:
- You feel unwell
- You or your partner are pregnant
- You or your partner get pregnant within three months of coming back to the UK
- Have numbness, pins and needles, muscle weakness or pain in your feet and hands that spreads to your arms and legs
Zika virus can harm a developing baby if you get it when you’re pregnant.
It can cause problems with the baby’s brain and the baby having an unusually small head.
Source: NHS
Defects such as microcephaly have been observed in mums who’ve experienced symptoms from Zika infections, the CDC said.
“Zika virus is endemic in 87 countries, and Thailand is a notable source of travel-related infections and CZS cases,” the health watchdog went on.
It pointed to a similar cases involving a woman from France who had got an asymptomatic Zika infection after travelling to Thailand, leading to abortion because of microcephaly detected at 24 weeks’ gestation.
“In conclusion, this case illustrates the ongoing risk for Zika virus infection in Thailand,” the report said.
“Obstetricians, travel medicine experts, and other clinicians should recognise the risk for acquired Zika infections during travel, and all travellers, especially those who are planning to conceive or are already pregnant, should be aware of the Zika risk and take necessary precautions, such as avoiding travel to Zika virus-endemic countries.”
The NHS advises anyone travelling to an area where Zika virus is found, to get advice from a GP, nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic four to six weeks before they go.
What can I do to prevent mosquito bites?
The Fit for Travel website says if you are travelling to an area affected by diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, spread by mosquitoes, you should take action to protect yourself.
Some mosquitoes are more active in the day time while others at night – so it is important to protect yourself at all times.
It says: “If you develop a high temperature (fever) either during or after travelling to an affected area, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and give details of your recent travel history.”
To protect yourself:
Use a good quality insect repellent
The higher the strength, the longer the repellent should prevent mosquitoes landing on you.
An effective repellent contains at least one of; DEET (50% concentration for areas where there is malaria), Icaradin/Picardin (at least 20% concentration, Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized (at least 30% concentration), IR3535 (but not for malaria areas).
Apply:
- On all areas of skin not covered by clothes
- After sun screen
- Regularly, particularly if you notice mosquitoes around you
- After swimming, washing or excessive sweating
- On the face, by spraying the repellent on the hands first
Loose clothing
Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing, so loose-fitted clothing is ideal.
Consider a high neckline, long sleeves, long trousers and socks.
Remember to apply insect repellent on areas not clothed.
Mosquito nets
Mosquito nets can protect you at night when sleeping and are even better if treated with insecticide.
Check for any holes in the net before using it. If a hole is apparent, then this should be mended.
You should tuck the net under your mattress or ground sheet during the night, and either collapse it down, or keep it tucked up during the day to stop insects flying under and into the net.