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Background Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects in the fetus and is associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities in childhood. Our objective was to describe ZIKV knowledge and attitudes among pregnant women in Colombia while ZIKV was circulating and whether they predicted the adoption of behaviors to prevent ZIKV mosquito-borne and sexual transmission. Methods We used self-reported data from Zika en Embarazadas y Niños (ZEN), a cohort study of women in early pregnancy across three regions of Colombia during 2017–2018. We used Poisson regression to estimate associations between knowledge, attitudes and previous experience with mosquito-borne infection and preventative behaviors. Results Among 1519 women, knowledge of mosquito-borne transmission was high (1480; 97.8%) and 1275 (85.5%) participants were worried about ZIKV infection during pregnancy. The most common preventive behavior was wearing long pants (1355; 89.4%). Regular mosquito repellent use was uncommon (257; 17.0%). While ZIKV knowledge and attitudes were not associated with the adoption of ZIKV prevention behaviors, previous mosquito-borne infection was associated with increased condom use (prevalence ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.7). Conclusions Participants were well informed about ZIKV transmission and its health consequences. However, whether this knowledge resulted in behavior change is less certain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed maternal and infant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in Colombia. Maternal serum was tested for CMV immunoglobulin G antibodies at a median of 10 (interquartile range: 8–12) weeks gestation (n = 1501). CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction was performed on infant urine to diagnose congenital (≤21 days of life) and postnatal (>21 days) infection. Maternal CMV seroprevalence was 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 97.5%–98.8%). Congenital CMV prevalence was 8.4 (95% CI: 3.9%–18.3%; 6/711) per 1000 live births. Among 472 infants without confirmed congenital CMV infection subsequently tested at age 6 months, 258 (54.7%, 95% CI: 50.2%–59.1%) had postnatal infection. Highlights: In this multi‐city study in Colombia, maternal CMV seroprevalence was 98.1%, the prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 8.4 per 1000 live births, and 54.7% of infants had postnatal infection by 6 months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To describe fetal and neonatal mortality due to congenital anomalies in Colombia.Methods: We analyzed all fetal and neonatal deaths due to a congenital anomaly registered with the Colombian vital statistics system during 1999-2008.Results: The registry included 213,293 fetal deaths and 7,216,727 live births. Of the live births, 77,738 (1.08%) resulted in neonatal deaths. Congenital anomalies were responsible for 7321 fetal deaths (3.4% of all fetal deaths) and 15,040 neonatal deaths (19.3% of all neonatal deaths). The fetal mortality rate due to congenital anomalies was 9.9 per 10,000 live births and fetal deaths; the neonatal mortality rate due to congenital anomalies was 20.8 per 10,000 live births. Mortality rates due to congenital anomalies remained relatively stable during the study period. The most frequent fatal congenital anomalies were congenital heart defects (32.0%), central nervous system anomalies (15.8%), and chromosomal anomalies (8.0%). Risk factors for fetal and neonatal death included: male or undetermined sex, living in villages or rural areas, mother's age >35 years, low and very low birthweight, and <28 weeks gestation at birth.Conclusions: Congenital anomalies are an important cause of fetal and neonatal deaths in Colombia, but many of the anomalies may be preventable or treatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colombia experienced a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in 2015-2016. To assist with planning for medical and supportive services for infants affected by prenatal ZIKV infection, we used a model to estimate the number of pregnant women infected with ZIKV and the number of infants with congenital microcephaly from August 2015 to August 2017.Methods: We used nationally reported cases of symptomatic ZIKV disease among pregnant women and information from the literature on the percent of asymptomatic infections to estimate the number of pregnant women with ZIKV infection occurring August 2015-December 2016. We then estimated the number of infants with congenital microcephaly expected to occur August 2015-August 2017. To compare to the observed counts of infants with congenital microcephaly due to all causes reported through the national birth defects surveillance system, the model was time limited to produce estimates for February-November 2016.Findings: We estimated 1140-2160 (interquartile range [IQR]) infants with congenital microcephaly in Colombia, during August 2015-August 2017, whereas 340-540 infants with congenital microcephaly would be expected in the absence of ZIKV. Based on the time limited version of the model, for February-November 2016, we estimated 650-1410 infants with congenital microcephaly in Colombia. The 95% uncertainty interval for the latter estimate encompasses the 476 infants with congenital microcephaly reported during that approximate time frame based on national birth defects surveillance.Interpretation: Based on modeled estimates, ZIKV infection during pregnancy in Colombia could lead to 3-4 times as many infants with congenital microcephaly in 2015-2017 as would have been expected in the absence of the ZIKV outbreak.Funding: This publication was made possible through support provided by the Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development under the terms of an Interagency Agreement with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children are considered a potentially vulnerable population for Zika virus infection. However, data on paediatric Zika virus infection are sparse.Methods: We analysed data from Colombia's national surveillance system during the 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak on patients meeting the clinical case definition of Zika virus disease (ZVD) among children aged 1 month to 18 years to estimate incidence by demographic characteristics and characterize the occurrence of selected complications.Results: Between August 14, 2015, and May 28, 2016, there were 18 576 reported cases of postnatal ZVD among children aged 1 month to 18 years. Laboratory testing was prioritized for high-risk patients (infants, pregnant women, adults aged ≥65 years, and persons with serious co-morbidities); among 1655 that were tested by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, 1207 (72.9%) were positive. The cumulative incidence of reported ZVD was 114.4 per 100 000. The incidence differed by sex, depending on age group; the largest difference was observed for 15-18 year olds, with females having a higher incidence than males (cumulative incidence ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 2.3, 2.7). At the time of report to the surveillance system, 631 patients (3.4%) were hospitalised and 96 (0.5%) had a report of an accompanying neurological diagnosis, including Guillain-Barré syndrome in 40 patients.Conclusions: Only a small proportion of reported paediatric ZVD cases in Colombia were hospitalized or had reported neurological conditions following ZVD. However, the potential for some serious outcomes demonstrates the importance of preventing Zika virus infection in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of pathologic examinations of 2 fetuses from women in Colombia with Zika virus infection during pregnancy that revealed severe central nervous system defects and potential associated abnormalities of the eye, spleen, and placenta. Amniotic fluid and tissues from multiple fetal organs tested positive for Zika virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Proyecto Vigilancia de Embarazadas con Zika (VEZ) was an intensified surveillance system built upon existing national surveillance of pregnant women with symptoms of Zika virus (ZIKV) disease and conducted in three Colombian cities with a high prevalence of Zika. This analysis of data from VEZ estimates the risk of Zika-associated birth defects among pregnant women with symptoms of ZIKV disease, and among a subset with laboratory evidence of possible ZIKV infection during pregnancy. Methods During April–November 2016, pregnant women were enrolled if they were reported to the surveillance system (Sivigila) or visited participating clinics with symptoms of ZIKV disease. Maternal and pediatric data were abstracted from prenatal care, ultrasound, and delivery records, as well as from pediatric or specialist visit records. Available maternal and infant specimens were tested for the presence of ZIKV RNA and/or anti-ZIKV immunoglobulin (IgM) antibodies. Results Of 1,223 women enrolled, 47.8% and 34.3% reported first or second trimester symptom onset, respectively. Of 381 pregnancies with maternal and/or infant specimens tested, 108 (29%) had laboratory evidence of possible ZIKV infection during pregnancy; half of these (53.3%) were positive for ZIKV RNA only, 37.4% for IgM antibodies only, and 9.3% for both. Of 1,190 of pregnancies with known outcome, 63 (5%) had Zika-associated brain or eye defects; among the subset with any laboratory evidence, 12 (11%) had Zika-associated brain or eye defects. The prevalence of Zika-associated brain or eye defects was 5.9% (35/593) and 4.5% (19/423) among pregnancies with symptom onset in the first and second trimester, respectively. Conclusion Among pregnant women with symptoms of ZIKV disease enrolled during the height of the ZIKV epidemic in Colombia, prevalence of any Zika-associated brain or eye defect was 5%, with a higher prevalence among those with laboratory evidence of possible ZIKV infection. Rapid enhancements to Colombia's national surveillance enabled the estimation of the risk of birth defects associated with ZIKV disease in pregnancy. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]