TRENDING TAGS :
Zika virus causes birth defects like microcephaly, study
Washinton: A recent study done on Zika virus marks a new turning point in Zika outbreak.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) confirms that the Zika virus causes severe birth defects including microcephaly.
Microcephaly is a syndrome where children are born with unusually small heads. Hundreds of babies born in Brazil suffered from microcephaly. The researchers are curious to know that why some cases of the virus results in birth defects while others do not.
- "Everything we know about this virus seems to be scarier than we initially thought",said Dr. Anne Schuchat of CDC.
- The virus can be transmitted by sexual contact as well.
- The Zika virus was first diagnosed in 1947 in Uganda with the symptoms causing joint pain, fever, rashes etc.
- The current outbreak of Zika virus, started in 2015 in Brazil has the symptoms which are much more severe.
- Around 200 babies have died as a result of Virus.
- Although many pregnant women who were infected with Zika Virus gave birth to healthy children.
- The CDC has banned pregnant women from travelling to Latin America and the Caribbean as their are more chances of Zika infections.
- "Research is under way to find much more about the mosquito-borne-virus and to develop a vaccine. This is the first time that mosquito bites have caused birth defects, said Dr Frieden."
Next Story
