Zika virus infection in a pregnant Canadian traveler with congenital fetal malformations noted by ultrasonography at 14-weeks gestation

• Published in: Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines
• Main Authors: Kevin L. Schwartz, Tiffany Chan, Nanky Rai, Kellie E. Murphy, Wendy Whittle, Michael A. Drebot, Jonathan Gubbay, Andrea K. Boggild
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018
• Subjects: Arbovirus; Congenital infections; Fetal sonography; Pregnancy and travel; Zika virus; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Trinidad
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40794-018-0062-8; https://doaj.org/article/99a2a9505d274509a1966adcdf57f543

Abstract Background Following emergence of Zika virus in the Americas, a devastating new congenital syndrome has been documented, leading to significant morbidity among Zika-infected fetuses and neonates. Case presentation A 29-year-old pregnant woman infected with Zika virus at 9-weeks gestation in Trinidad presented with one-month of fever, headache, and myalgia with persistent viremia. Significant fetal abnormalities were identified at 14-week ultrasound, which is the earliest ultrasound to describe a severely affected fetus following Zika virus infection to our knowledge. Conclusions We discuss the implications of prolonged maternal viremia and the spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome detectable by fetal ultrasound.