Forum on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of Zika Virus Infection among Infants
Media Advisory
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
What
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a Forum in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This Forum will be an opportunity to convene experts to review emerging evidence and collect individual expert input regarding the diagnosis, evaluation and management of infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection.
For more information about this Forum, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/training/forum.html
When
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
8:30 am to 11:30 am ET: Presentations on the latest scientific developments about Zika and preliminary discussions about clinical evaluation and management of infants with congenital Zika virus exposure and infection.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm ET: Closing session to discuss expert input that emerges during the forum
The general sessions describing the state of the science will be live webcast on Wednesday morning. The expert input that emerges from the Forum will be available via one-way teleconference on Thursday afternoon.
For more information about the webcast and call-in information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/training/forum.html To provide input or ask questions, participants can email congenitalzika@cdc.gov. Questions will be responded to after the Forum.
Why
As of August 8, 2017, 2,112 pregnant women in the United States and the District of Colombia (DC) and 4,418 pregnant women in the US territories have laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection. Ninety-three infants with birth defects have been born to women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy in the US states and DC, and 128 infants with possible Zika-associated birth defects have been born in the US territories.
In August 2016, CDC released Interim Guidance for the Evaluation and Management of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection. Since that time, new information has become available and recently, CDC updated its interim guidance for healthcare providers caring for pregnant women with possible Zika exposure, which has implications for the guidance related to care and management of infants. As such, CDC is reviewing the new data to determine the appropriate care and support needed to care for these vulnerable infants and families.
During this Forum, pediatric specialists, obstetric specialists, non-governmental partners, and federal officials will gather at CDC and experts will provide individual input regarding the clinical evaluation and management of congenitally exposed and infected infants in the United States. CDC will collect this input, which will help inform potential future updates to the guidance for the clinical evaluation and management of infants and can inform strategies for communication and coordination of care.
Who
- Pediatric specialists
- Obstetric specialists
- Public health officials from state, local, tribal and territorial health departments
- CDC experts
- Representatives from multiple federal agencies involved in Zika response
- Representatives from non-government, clinical organizations involved in US Zika response
