President Obama asked Congress for $2 Billion to research the Zika virus. Thankfully, we have a do-nothing Congress who has yet to fund the Center for Disease Control’s (CDCs) request for Zika research. I posted an earlier blog about the Zika issue here: http://112.196.20.91/drbrownstein/zika-thoughts-no-panic-needed/
Zika refers to the virus spread by mosquitos. It was first described as coming from the Zika Forest of Uganda in 1947. Zika has affected many tropical countries including many in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. And, over the last 70 years, there has not been an epidemic of microcephaly—children born with small heads, in any of these countries until a few months ago. Microcephaly made headlines early this year when a Brazilian doctor reported an epidemic increase in children being born with small heads—microcephaly. This doctor also noticed that many of the children who were born with small heads had mothers who were infected with Zika during their pregnancy.
The Powers-That-Be, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) quickly jumped on this story in order to squeeze money out of the U.S. The WHO declared Zika a global pandemic and the CDC promptly asked Congress for $2,000,000,000 dollars to study the illness and develop a vaccine against Zika. A recent bill from Congress proposed spending about $1,000,000,000 studying and creating a vaccine for Zika.
Do we really need another vaccine against an illness that has never been proven to cause any serious illness, including microcephaly?
If Zika were responsible for causing the microcephaly epidemic in Brazil, where are the epidemics in all the other countries where Zika is endemic? For example, in Colombia, a recent New England Journal of Medicine study of nearly 12,000 pregnant women infected with Zika found zero microcephaly cases. (1)
Clearly, there is something causing the acute rise of microcephaly in Brazil. I doubt it is Zika.
Perhaps, we should study the area of Brazil where the microcephaly epidemic is occurring. Maybe the CDC and the WHO could look at pregnant mothers in Northeast Brazil and see what has happened to them recently that may be causing the microcephaly epidemic.
So, what has happened to Brazilian women that could be causing the epidemic of microcephaly? This is the same area of Brazil where 800,000 genetically modified mosquitoes were released. Also, pregnant women of Brazil are required to get a new vaccine—DTwP—the whole cell pertussis vaccine. And, there are reports that pregnant Brazilian women are encouraged to get the MMR vaccine. In the U.S., the MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy and the DTwP is not approved.
Perhaps it is one of (or a combination of) these vaccines that is causing the microcephaly epidemic? Perhaps it is due to the overuse of pesticides which are liberally used in Brazil. If we don’t ask the questions, how are we going to get the right answer?
At least with Zika, thank goodness, we have a do-nothing Congress. We have not wasted $2 billion–YET.
The CDC should be asking the right questions–not hyping the Zika epidemic to fill its bank accounts with our money. If those in charge of the CDC can’t ask the right questions, then it is time to bring in a new crew to manage the CDC.
Clearly, that time is here.
Should we study why there is a microcephaly epidemic in Brazil? Absolutely. Should we give the CDC $2 billion to study and create a vaccine for Zika? Absolutely not.
DrB
(1) NEJM. June 15, 2016DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1604037
The vaccine makers actually have macrocephaly, big heads, smart enough to game the system and brainwash the considerably smaller headed populace. This is a much more worrisome epidemic of small headedness than anything a mosquito could produce. Sure they are looking to waste a couple billion, getting the government to fund their R&D for them, that’s beautiful, some large heads indeed at work. Thanks for speaking out Dr. Brownstein. Thankfully not everyone suffers from microcephaly in our society.
Not again, you must be referring to Colombia, with an o not u. People are constantly misspelling it. Unless you are referring to the District of Columbia. I did read about Zika in Colombia so really think you are referring to Colombia
Jennifer,
You are correct. Thank you. Editing is not my strong suit.
DrB
I agree with Clifton Thomas MD. Biology is more complex than the unversed can understand. It is easier for us to throw around some conspiracies and to come up with pseudo-scientific explanations for biological processes, rather than to trust those who have dedicated their lives to studying and furthering the knowledge of this field. Just because something doesn’t quite add up to the general population doesn’t mean it is a lie made to control the masses. We are arrogant to believe that we know everything. Correlation does not imply causation in the case of Brazil’s water pollution and microcephaly. There are many natural phenomena occurring in biology to account for the discrepancies observed, including the virulent-strain of Zika from Uganda that showed no symptoms of microcephaly.
Probably a mutated version. Read this Nature article by Brazilian researchers. Nature (2016)The Brazilian Zika virus strain causes birth defects in experimental models. Near final version. Dr. Brownstein comments would be appreciated.
Dr. T,
Perhaps a mutated version, but my money is on something else either with or without Zika.
DrB
I am 11.4 weeks pregnant right now. We just returned from Israel and now we are in the moist hot season here in MI. I thank you for this article because I have been searching far and wide for more thoughts on this. Currently all I have found has been the “we need a vaccine for that” camp. I just want all the information. Needless to say I am very concerned and spray myself with EO spray to keep them as far from me as possible. I know there’s such a minute chance of there being infected mosquitoes here, but when you’re pregnant, the fear factor is exponentially raised. thank you again!
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2016/07/13/science.aag0219.full
I don’t agree with a lot of what this study concludes about needing more vaccine research but their message that the Zika virus is on its way out and that spraying for mosquitoes or vaccinating now will just delay our population from building up herd immunity is an excellent point.
This saving of 2 billion is of course chicken feed to the probably over 2 trillion wasted yearly on The Miscellaneous or MISC – Military Industrial Security Complex.
Dr. B Is always enlightening but this time I didn’t need to be told how ludicrous these claims were. Zika has been commonly known and studied for 75+ years. It has probably existed for 1000-10000 years. And it just suddenly and inexplicably started causing microcephaly? But only in Brazil?!?!
Uh yeah, sure. If you buy that you are probably the one with the shrunken head. Or at least a shrunken brain. Thank god DrB and his readers have managed to remain unaffected.
Dr. Brownstein,
Can I have permission to print this blog to send to head doctors over the missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? I am afraid they are being overly concerned about their missionaries throughout the world being affected by the Zika virus because of all the publicity. I know Dr. Alex Vasquez has posted on Face book studies showing new pesticides being the cause of the microcephaly.
Colette,
Feel free to send it wherever you need to. Please just indicate where it came from.
DrB
I just read this article today: http://www.healthynaturalcures.org/doctors-name-monsantos-larvicide-cause-brazilian-microcephaly-outbreak/
Not sure anyone else has posted this, but some doctors are stating that a Monsanto larvicide that was added to drinking water is more likely the cause. Seems to always be a Monsanto connection.
When will are doctors learn that chemicals poison the human body?
New Report Questions Causal Link Between Zika and Microcephaly: by Marco Cáceres
A recent news article in Science Daily cites a “status report” by New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) of Cambridge, MA raising questions about the supposed causal link between the Zika virus and the birth defect known as microcephaly.1 2 According to the article:
Brazil’s microcephaly epidemic continues to pose a mystery—if Zika is the culprit, why are there no similar epidemics in other countries also hit hard by the virus? In Brazil, the microcephaly rate soared with more than 1,500 confirmed cases. But in Colombia, a recent study of nearly 12,000 pregnant women infected with Zika found zero microcephaly cases. If Zika is to blame for microcephaly, where are the missing cases?1
The Colombian study of 11,944 pregnant women referenced in the NECSI report was supported by the Colombian National Institute of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on June 15, 2015.3 The NECSI report notes that, of the 11,944 cases with “Zika symptoms being observed in clinical settings,” there were no cases of infants born with microcephaly.2
Read remainder of the article at: http://www.thevaccinereaction(dot)org/2016/06/necsi-report-questions-causal-link-between-zika-and-microcephaly/
A comment given by Dr. James Lyons-Weiler on The Vaccine Reaction:
July 1, 2016 at 12:39 am
I have it on good authority that (1) MC surge started in Brazil before Zika arrived; (2) the surge started a year after the mandated “Stork” pre-natal program (Data from the national heart study, http://www.who.int/bulletin/online_first/16-170639.pdf (3) that Brazil uses whole-cell pertussis to vaccinate the poor (who cannot afford the fee for the clinic), source: Dr. Waldely De Oliveira Dias pers comm to Dr. Lyons-Weiler). Add to that the new use of folic acid w/no MTHFR screening, and the larvicide, and expansion of the use of glyphosate in Brazil – a perfect storm.
From the report:
Microcephaly in northeastern Brazil: a review of 16,208 births between 2012 and 2015:
From Abstract :A recent outbreak of microcephaly has been reported from Northeast Brazil. Neither its aetiology, nor its clinical significance has yet been fully established. A complication from an intrauterine infection with the Zika virus (ZIKV) is, thus far, the most explored hypothesis. In Paraíba, one of the nine States within the epicentre of the epidemic, 21 medical centres collaborate, via telemedicine since 2012, in a paediatric cardiology network. The Network’s database currently stores in formation on more than 100,000 neonates.
Discussion: (in the body of the discussion)
The first question to be addressed is the real incidence of microcephaly in Northeast Brazil. The discrepancy from the expected and found cases may reflect the condition’s major sub-notification in the official sites in recent years coupled with an even greater
epidemiological crisis than presumed or simple the need to revise the diagnostic criteria for the condition. The numbers of very extreme cases of microcephaly, for instance, while significantly increasing over the last few months, are much smaller and until recently fell within the expected ranges for the worldwide reported incidence.
Currently, the association with the ZIKV infection is the most explored possibility. Evidence of perinatal transmission of ZIKV(10)together with its strong neurotropism(11) and its documentation in amniotic fluid of foetuses with microcephaly(4) are factors that favour this hypothesis.
However, if the ZIKV were indeed introduced in Brazil at the World Cup in mid 2014(12), the outbreak of microcephaly would have preceded it. ZIKV has been identified in Africa over 50 years ago, and neither there nor in the outbreaks outside Africa, such an association with microcephaly has been reported(13).
Read entire report at link above.
Thank you Dr. B. for sharing your common sense and knowledge when we are confronted with stressed out calls from those who believe the propaganda calling to vaccinate against every imaginary bug that comes along. I agree that the effort should be directed towards finding out what is the real cause of microcephaly, and the answer is likely closer than most think, such as Vaccines or a larvicide called “Pyriproxyfen”.
As a fairly recent article (June 14, 2016) at the Mayo Clinic Web blog site commented, “…let’s bring it back to reality. There doesn’t appear to be any cases of affected babies born in the U.S. to women who contracted Zika on U.S. soil — and this is what we need to focus on. Let’s not increase our stress hormones worrying about something that isn’t there.”
What we need 2 Billion more of is smart-thinking doctors and people like you, Dr. B! I so appreciate all you do to educate and bring truth to those of us who can LOOK and SEE it. Many, many thanks. Keep up the Good Fight.
As usual, right as rain–thanks so much for your hard work, integrity and grit! : )
Well, this is a surprise!!! Usually Dr. Brownstein hits the nail on the head but he blew it BIG time on this post!!! Maybe he ought to look into the VACCINES that the mothers in Brazil got after their 20th/ week of pregnancy!!! And the baby born in New York to the mother that had microcephaly was a Brazilian mother who had been given the vaccines and flew to NY to have her baby. The dr. in brazil that “reported” the high connection of zika virus with the disease was a liar because only FOUR of the 22 mothers that gave birth to these babies HAD the zika virus!!! WHAT did ALL of these mothers have in common in these births!!!??? THEY ALL HAD 20 WEEK VACCINE SHOTS!!! But no, THAT couldn’t be the cause because we all KNOW that “vaccines are perfectly harmless”!!!!!! I suggest less “speculating” doc and more FACTS and the FACTS all point to the new 20 weeks pregnancy vaccines that they all were given!!! And the CDC is a FOR PROFIT CORPORATION and is NOT any gov’t agency as the perps want you to believe!!! You can see their Dunn and Bradstreet number on the NYSE.
Edward,
Read my post more carefully. It certainly could be the vaccines. It could be other things as well.
DrB
Thankyou so much for this well written post, Dr. B.
You are so spot-on
Keep up the good work doc and thanks, the bums won’t win in the end! Also, I appreciate your videos on youtube, etc., I’m learning a good deal from you and my health is improving as a result.
Doug,
“The bums will always lose.” One of the greatest lines ever in a movie. The bums will lose when the science comes out.
DrB
Thank you for this!
Brazil also has a serious water pollution issue with “dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from human sewage…” The issue is receiving international attention due to the upcoming Olympics in Rio. I’m not sure what causes microencephaly, but if there are dangerous bacteria and viruses in the water they are drinking / using – this could be part of the problem.
Here is an article: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/30/water-in-brazil-olympic-venues-dangerously-contaminated.html
We appreciate that you continue to fight the good fight for us. Not many are willing. God bless you.!!!
Has there actually been an increase in the number of cases of microcephaly? Is “epidemic” really the accurate term? Just wondering who gathers verifies the statistics. Stats are easily manipulated and misunderstood.
Who gets the two billion dollars? Any researcher who says they want to help? Throwing money at a problem is not the solution. Researchers get rich and no answer comes. Vaccines are already hurting pregnant women…another one may destroy the next generation of babies. Spraying poison is not the answer since it destroys health also. Any vaccine while pregnant may hurt the fetus and the mom. Adding more vaccines to an already high number of them for people would be sad. I agree…study what is happening in the other countries. Maybe people can test positive and be like HIV and still have no symptoms or transmit nothing to the child.
Thank you for another voice talking commonsense in this manufactured crisis involving the unrelated virus. It seems nothing but a blatant attempt to make even more money for an increasingly greedy and crooked drug industry selling us something that will do no good and may well cause harm to some people. I noted that part of the suggestion was to get more funding for increased insecticide spraying of these mosquito infested areas, thus adding to the future risk of further exacerbation of the problem. What a shame that governments seen to know no limits to sacrificing the health of people for the wealth of the crooked and greedy.