ICMR-NIV researchers study Zika's impact on pregnancy outcomes

Researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) in Pune are starting a study on how the Zika virus affects pregnancy and birth outcomes. This research comes after a Zika outbreak in Pune last year. The study, titled "Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes after Maternal Zika Virus Infection," will include mothers who tested positive for Zika in the last nine months. It will also involve individuals currently infected with the virus. The research is led by Dr. Pradnya V. Shinde and her team of scientists. This eight-month study will focus on pregnant and new mothers, as well as their babies born during the outbreak from June to September 2024. Experts aim to find out how Zika impacts pregnancy and any complications for babies born to infected mothers. The study will also track Zika-specific antibodies in those who have had the virus. A senior health official stated that this is the first study of its kind to follow individuals with confirmed Zika infection. It aims to gather essential data recommended by the World Health Organization regarding the effects of Zika on pregnancies. The study will take place in several areas of Pune, including Katraj, Kothrud, and Hadapsar. There will be no follow-up after the study, as it is cross-sectional. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will assist in coordinating the research, helping with sample collection and interviews. During the outbreak in Pune from June to September 2024, 109 individuals tested positive for Zika, including 43 pregnant women. Most of these women have since given birth, with one pregnancy terminated for unknown reasons.