Population‐based pregnancy and birth defects surveillance in the era of Zika virus

Abstract

Coordination of these surveillance systems provides an opportunity to capture information from both a prospective and retrospective approach. This relatively modest investment in the public health infrastructure can continue to protect pregnant women and their infants during the ongoing response to Zika virus and in the next emergent threat to maternal and child health. Birth Defects Research 109:372-378, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Population-Based Surveillance for Birth Defects Potentially Related to Zika Virus Infection — 22 States and Territories, January 2016–June 2017

“…During the Zika virus outbreak, population-based birth defects surveillance programs were adapted to monitor birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Use of population-based birth defects surveillance programs and the U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry provide an example of a complementary approach in ascertaining both exposures and outcomes to better monitor new and emerging threats during pregnancy and impact on infants (8). Birth defects surveillance was important for identifying infants with birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection whose mothers were not tested during pregnancy or were not tested at a time when infection could be detected.…”

Population-Based Surveillance of Birth Defects Potentially Related to Zika Virus Infection — 15 States and U.S. Territories, 2016

“…Finally, birth defects surveillance systems can provide an important mechanism for facilitating timely access to services among infants with birth defects and serve as a resource for assessing subsequent health and developmental outcomes among these children. The unique contributions of ongoing birth defects surveillance and the U.S. Zika Pregnancy and Infant Registry are both critical to optimally monitoring pregnant women and infants from the threat of Zika virus infection and implementing appropriate prevention efforts ( 10 ).…”

Public Health Approach to Addressing the Needs of Children Affected by Congenital Zika Syndrome

“…This marks the first time that pregnancy surveillance and birth defect surveillance activities have combined their efforts to address a common goal. 16 Moving forward, this combined infrastructure could serve as a model for addressing myriad public health problems that affect maternal and child health.…”