Long-term consequences of Zika virus infections during pregnancy for school-aged children and their families in Brazil

Zika virus infections during pregnancy can be transmitted across the placenta, disrupting fetal development and leading to structural anomalies and neurologic impairments collectively recognized as Congenital Zika Syndrome. While Zika virus transmission has waned globally, the devastating health and social consequences of the 2015-2017 pandemic endure for children with Congenital Zika Syndrome and their families. In this collaborative project based in Brazil, we will follow-up school-aged children with and without prenatal exposure to Zika virus and use epidemiological, large-scale data linkage, and social science methods to answer critical questions about the children's health and learning needs and to improve understanding of the long-term impacts for affected children's families. This project will provide a singular opportunity to define the clinical spectrum of Congenital Zika Syndrome in later childhood and to inform clinical decision-making and public policies (e.g., prenatal screening, educational adaptations, and social protection) related to Zika virus infections during pregnancy.