Abstract
In 2015, the Zika virus was introduced in Colombia. The emergence of this arbovirus is a public health challenge for the country, considering the association between the infection and congenital disorders such as microcephaly. Thus, we estimated the burden of disease due to microcephaly associated with Zika in Colombia and its administrative subdivisions for the period 2015-2016. We conducted an exploratory ecological study, using as unit of measurement disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The cases of microcephaly were obtained from the Zika national and departmental databases built by the National Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA). Deaths attributed to microcephaly were estimated from previous studies. Finally, we calculated mortality rates and incidences, then we performed a sensitivity analysis under three scenarios (conservative, medium, and extreme) to estimate the DALYs. In the 2015-2016 period, 10,609.4 DALYs were caused by microcephaly associated with Zika in Colombia. 71% of the total DALYs were years of life lost and 29% were years lived with disability. Five out of 32 departments (Meta, Córdoba, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, and Norte de Santander) contributed 71% of total DALYs. The burden of microcephaly associated with Zika outweighed the burden of other congenital anomalies such as neural tube defects and Down syndrome in children aged between 0 and 4 years in Colombia. Public health efforts must be made to prevent and monitor these cases.
Highlights
The acute Zika virus infection is generally benign, the virus has been associated with severe complications
It is possible to argue that the incidence of microcephaly reported during 2016 was associated with the Zika epidemic happening between the epidemiological week 32 of 2015 and the epidemiological week 28 of 2016
In comparison to other diseases, we found that our 2016 microcephaly estimate (10,220.64 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)) exceeded the DALYs caused by other congenital anomalies, according to the Global health estimates 2016 published by the World Health Organization (WHO) 25
Summary
The acute Zika virus infection is generally benign, the virus has been associated with severe complications. Neurological disorders in general population, especially Guillain-Barré syndrome 1,2. Congenital anomalies, including congenital microcephaly and fetal losses in women infected during pregnancy 3,4. The teratogenic effects of the virus were initially suspected after the increasing number of microcephaly cases reported in Brazil and retrospectively in French Polynesia 5,6. Given the epidemiological and histopathological evidence collected since the first cases of microcephaly and other neurological malformations, currently, the Zika virus can be considered the causal agent of these alterations 3. Symptomatic and asymptomatic Zika-infected pregnant women are at risk for vertical transmission of the virus. Zika infection during pregnancy can lead to severe birth defects, there is a higher risk of congenital anomalies in the first and second trimester of pregnancy 4,7
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
