While it was widely considered to be the case, the spread of the Zika virus from Brazil to other parts of the world has been officially linked to cases of birth defects in babies born to mothers infected with the virus.
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New York Times reports that the increasing number of Zika virus and microcephaly casualties could pressure Congress to allocate more than $1.8 billion in emergency funding, which was requested by U.S. President Barack Obama. Now that Zika is officially understood to be a cause of microcephaly, researchers can now explore what other damage is being done.
Colombia has confirmed the first two cases of a rare birth defect associated with the spread of Zika.
“On the basis of this review, we conclude that a causal relationship exists between prenatal Zika virus infection and microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies”, Rasmussen and colleagues wrote. The Centers for Disease Control has finally confirmed what many feared about the mosquito-borne Zika virus now making its way through much of Central America. For one, it is still unknown why some pregnant women who were infected with Zika did not bear babies with microcephaly, which necessitates more studies. Zika virus infection can also be prevented by applying insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, making sure that windows and doors are always closed and treating clothes with permethrin, CDC advises.
“They’re anticipating that we’re going to see more neurological complications, if you will, from these children who have been infected in utero”, she said.
Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the C.D.C. director, said that there is absolutely no doubt that Zika Virus causes Microcephaly. “Never before in history has there been a situation where a bite from a mosquito could result in a devastating malformation”.
CDC officials said they hoped the findings would also raise public awareness of the seriousness of the Zika threat. Pregnant women should continue to avoid travel to areas where Zika virus infection is actively spreading.
The WHO, however, had announced last month that evidence is being collated to establish if there is a link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
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Doctors in Brazil have mapped out the largest set of brain scans of children with microcephaly which was presumably caused by mothers becoming infected with the virus while pregnant.
