U.S. Health Officials Confirm Zika Virus Causes Microcephaly Birth Defects

Southern Med Law Attorneys Are Investigating Zika Virus Birth Defects And Microcephaly Birth Defect Lawsuits That May Be Associated With The Chemical, Pyriproxyfen.

Zika Virus Lawsuit News: As a growing number of states are at risk of the Zika virus, U.S. health officials confirmed this week that the virus causes microcephaly, a serious birth defect that causes babies to have an abnormally small head and an underdeveloped brain. Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported that the mosquito that carries the Zika Virus has now been found in 30 states, up from 12 states as originally reported.

Southern Med Law attorneys continue to speak with pregnant women who have contract the Zika Virus and ask families who believe their babies were born with microcephaly due to the Zika virus or the chemical, pyriproxyfen to contact the firm to explore your legal rightd. You can call 1-205-547-5525 or fill out our online form located on the www.southernmedlaw.com website.

At a White House briefing on April 11, Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the CDC, said the Zika virus is “a bit scarier than we initially thought.” The deputy director confirmed that the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact and mosquito bites, and can create complications at any stage of pregnancy. There are currently 672 confirmed Zika virus cases in the United States and U.S. territories, and 64 cases are pregnant women, according to the CDC. Health officials said in February that they were seeing microcephaly and other birth defects in babies whose mothers traveled to areas affected by the Zika virus including Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. A vaccine is being worked on and Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the first vaccine candidate should be ready to start in September.
[foxnews.com/politics/2016/04/11/health-officials-sound-alarm-bell-over-zika-virus-spread.html, Fox News]
[abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-virus-confirmed-rare-microcephaly-birth-defect-cdc/story?id=38370364, ABC News]

People infected with the mosquito-borne virus experience such symptoms as joint pain, rash, fever, and conjunctivitis (red eyes), according to the CDC. The Zika virus is prevalent in South America countries, particularly Brazil where there are more reports of babies with microcephaly. A group of Argentine doctors released a report in February linking a toxic chemical called, pyriproxyfen, to microcephaly. The Physicians in Crop-Sprayed Towns said the Brazilian government injected pyriproxyfen into the drinking water supply to stop mosquitos from developing in drinking water tanks. The areas where pyriproxyfen was used saw a significant increase in microcephaly birth defects in newborns, according to the report. Pyriproxyfen is made by Sumitomo Chemical, a Toyko-based company which has subsidiary offices in the United States.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in March found the Zika virus can lead to birth defects and fetal death. The study followed 88 expectant mothers who sought treatment for Zika-like symptoms at a clinic in Rio de Janiero, Brazil between September 2015 and February 2016. Of the total, 72 women were diagnosed with Zika virus, and 42 agreed to have an ultrasound. The ultrasound uncovered some abnormal brain development and two fetuses that died during the third trimester. Of the six live births occurring so far, one infant had severe microcephaly and global cerebral atrophy and two infants had restricted growth and proportionally small heads.
[nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1602412, The New England Journal of Medicine]

About Southern Med Law And Filing A Zika virus microcephaly birth defect Lawsuit:

Southern Med Law is a patient and consumer advocacy organization providing legal representation to the victims of negligent personal injuries, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs, faulty medical devices and defective products. Led by Dr. François Blaudeau, an attorney and a practicing obstetrician/ gynecologist, the legal staff at Southern Med Law possesses a deep understanding of the complex medical and legal questions at issue in all manner of product liability and personal injury claims. They’re not afraid to take on the nation’s largest corporations in their pursuit of justice, and are committed to ensuring that all victims have access to the type of aggressive legal advocacy that assures success.

Contact:
Southern Med Law
François M. Blaudeau, MD JD FACHE FCLM Esquire
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Phone: 205-547-5525

Fax: 205-547-5526
francois@sml-legal.i-mlaw.com