}

Confirm that Zika virus causes microcyefalia

2016/04/14 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has proven the relationship between Zika virus and microcephalies and other neurological diseases.
Head (left) of a child with microcephaly in front of a healthy child. Ed. CDC/Public Property

The CDC investigation confirms their suspicion. This study analyzed all the data collected so far and concluded that there is a cause-effect relationship between maternal infection and neurological alterations in newborns. The results have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The CDC warns that microcephaly is the “peak of the iceberg” of the alterations that Zika virus can cause in the brain and in development. She recommends further intensifying prevention measures for pregnant women. However, it is said that not all infected pregnant women should have sick children.

On the other hand, although they have said that there is a causal effect, they have not determined how the virus causes these alterations in the brain of fetuses. They admit that more research is needed to clarify it.

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