Zika virus: A new human teratogen? Implications for women of reproductive age

L Schuler-Faccini1,2, Mtv Sanseverino1,2, Fsl Vianna1,2

  • 1SIAT, Brazilian Teratogen Information Service, Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil.

In 2015 an unprecedented increase of reports of newborns with microcephaly in Brazil made news headlines around the world. A possible etiological association with prenatal maternal infection by Zika virus (ZIKV) was suggested based on temporal and geographic distribution of ZIKV infection and the subsequent increase in the reports of microcephaly cases. Here we discuss ZIKV as a new human teratogen, with comments on potential treatment options.