The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Colombia’s Instituto Nacional de Salud have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on Zika virus response activities in Colombia, particularly the effect of Zika virus during pregnancy, following more than 102,000 reported cases across Colombia since October 2015.
As the scientific community races to understand the full clinical spectrum of Zika virus infection, international health agencies are moving into rigorous, longitudinal tracking.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Long-Term Tracking: The newly established ZEN Colombia cohort study will investigate the longer-term effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, including symptomatic and asymptomatic Zika virus-infected pregnant women, their male partners, and their children.
- Expanded Surveillance: Proyecto VEZ has already successfully enrolled more than 900 pregnant women diagnosed with Zika virus disease across three sites in Colombia.
- Established Pathology: Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and severe brain defects in the developing fetus.
Bilateral Research Infrastructure and Proyecto VEZ Expansion
Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden and Martha Lucía Ospina Martínez, Director General of Colombia’s Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS), the new collaborative framework institutionalizes joint operations in public health surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory, vector, and other public health response activities. Project VEZ (Vigilancia de Embarazadas con Zika) has been a joint effort between the INS and the CDC since February 2016, set up to strengthen monitoring of pregnant women who contract Zika across three locations in Colombia.
Data from Colombia’s national surveillance network show that upwards of 102,000 individuals have contracted the Zika virus since the outbreak began in October 2015, a figure that includes more than 18,000 expectant mothers. “Colombia has been a superb partner in the fight against Zika,” stated CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, emphasizing that the collaboration will provide critical scientific information to help the United States, Colombia, and other countries prepare for the unprecedented challenges posed by Zika.
The ZEN Colombia Cohort Study Protocol
Taking root from the groundwork established by Proyecto VEZ, both organizations are launching a prospective cohort analysis known as ZEN Colombia (Zika en Embarazadas y Niños en Colombia) to examine the extended impacts of prenatal Zika virus exposure. The research cohort will encompass expectant mothers carrying the Zika virus—both those exhibiting symptoms and those showing none—alongside their children and male partners.
| Program / Study | Primary Objective | Current Enrollment & Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Proyecto VEZ | Enhanced surveillance of women infected with Zika during pregnancy | More than 900 pregnant women enrolled across three sites in Colombia |
| ZEN Colombia | Prospective cohort study investigating longer-term effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy | Includes symptomatic and asymptomatic Zika virus-infected pregnant women, their male partners, and their children |
Future Trajectory of Congenital Surveillance
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC and the Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia collaborate to understand long-term effects of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Press Release. September 2, 2016.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
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