The maternal-fetal transmission of Chikungunya confirmed

Researchers at the South Reunion hospital group, the Institut Pasteur and INSERM have for the first time highlighted cases of maternal-fetal transmission of the virus Chikungunya. But according to them, newborns are infected and more likely to develop a severe form of the disease. For 22 months, three teams have conducted their research from 7500 pregnant women, of which 628 were infected during pregnancy. First conclusion, the likelihood that mothers transmit the virus to her unborn child increases with the approach of the term. While less than 3% of children born to an infected mother during pregnancy are infected, the rate of transmission… reached 50% when the infection of the mother is in the two days preceding the birth. They have also shown only once every two, the maternal-fetal transmission of Chikungunya causes a severe form of the disease. With particular encephalopathy resulting in a cerebral edema, possibly accompanied by bleeding complications. From March 2005 to December 2006, Chikungunya epidemic has affected 266,000 Réunionnais. In total, the disease has caused the deaths of 254 people.