US launches new study against zika with 10,000 pregnant

Pregnant Women in South America and the Caribbean will participate in the research. In Brazil, the study will have the support of Fiocruz

                        

United States - In an unprecedented investigation, 10,000 pregnant women will be monitored throughout pregnancy by US doctors that calculate the effects of zika virus. Experts want to detect data as the most dangerous period for infection, symptoms of infection, and especially the damage the virus zika may result in neurological development of fetuses.

The mega international study will be directed by researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to an announcement Tuesday. Pregnant women who participate in the survey will be voluntary in various regions of South America and the Caribbean, areas heavily affected by the outbreak of zika.

In Brazil, the study will have the support of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). Women will undergo monthly tests and will have a follow-up of researchers for six weeks after delivery, which will consider to maternal law. Have babies who are born with some sequel zika virus will have a follow-up of at least one year.

"The study wants to find out at what stage of pregnancy the virus is more aggressive," the NIH said in a statement. The project starts with a $ 500 million investment that were cut from other research and intended for that the Obama administration, said Anthony Fauci, director of Infeccionas Diseases department Atlanta.

"But we can not complete the study do not receive additional funds already requested," he said. It would need at least US $ 1.9 million to study the zika virus, a figure requested by Obama, but that was not approved by the US Congress.

The zika falls within the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae, and is transmitted by the Aedes genus mosquito bites. Recently, the Agency of Administration US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two pharmaceutical companies to start the first test of an experimental vaccine against zika in humans.

The vaccine, called GLS-5700, will move to a new phase, which will be tested its effects in 40 healthy volunteers. In animal tests, the compound has shown to induce effective results in antibodies and T cells, responsible for coordinating cell immunization response.