It may be because more women are becoming infected as time goes by. Or it may be that the system for reporting cases has changed. Whatever the reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that the number of pregnant women in the U.S. who have the Zika virus has more than tripled, rising from 48 to 157.
No one has yet been reported to have contracted the Zika infection from a mosquito bite that occurred in the U.S. All known cases have occurred when the victim traveled to a country where Zika is widespread, or contracted it sexually from a male partner who has been to one of those areas. The CDC says they do not know under which scenario each individual was infected. CDC doctors say there is not enough data to determine the chances of a pregnant women infected with the Zika virus giving birth to a baby with defects such as microcephaly.
Earlier this week the CDC reported 48 pregnant women in the U.S. with Zika. The jump to 157 includes women who are infected but have no symptoms, a condition that can still cause devastating consequences for the fetus. Additionally, 122 pregnant women with Zika were found in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern earlier Friday that the same strain of the virus that is linked to microcephaly and other types of neurological disorders and is spreading through the Americas has now spread to Cabo Verde, an African national also known as Cape Verde. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, regional director for WHO in Africa, said “The findings are of concern because it is further proof that the outbreak is spreading beyond South America and is on the doorstep of Africa.”
WHO says that this Zika strain, known as the Asian type, was likely imported from Brazil. There are over 7,500 suspected Zika cases in Cape Verde. At least three infants have been born with microcephaly, including one baby born in Boston.