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Zika Virus Officially Causes Rare Microcephaly Birth Defects, CDC Says (cnn.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday the Zika virus causes microcephaly and other birth defects. "This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly," CDC director, Dr. Tom Frieden said. The CDC previously said it was likely the virus in pregnant women was the cause of the rare birth defect that results in an underdeveloped brain and that more evidence and research were needed to conclusively say it is causal. "We started using criteria about a month ago to see which ones had been met and which ones had not been met. We wanted to do this in a systematic and calculated way," said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, lead author of the New England Journal of Medicine special report. There's was also no alternative explanation to account for the increase in these congenital defects among women who had the Zika virus during pregnancy. The CDC says they are not yet ready to conclude the virus causes Guillain-Barre syndrome. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 1,000 cases of microcephaly and other fetal malformations believed to be associated with the Zika virus from six countries.

4 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Turning point? water is wet by tomhath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am not virologist or a neuroscientist or immunologist, or even a medical professional.

    No need to mention that, t was obvious from the rest of your post. Certain viruses are able to attack stem cells, some of them cause miscarriages, some just damage the cell and cause severe defects. Google is your friend, anti-vaxxers are not your friend.

  2. Re:It's for real this time, I promise! by Mashiki · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Someone forgetting that malaria was common in North America as far north as southern Quebec up until 100 years ago when swamp draining and spraying became the norm. Simply because you don't think it's actually a problem or "a real dangerous pandemic" doesn't mean it won't cause serious problems for general healthcare.

    --
    Om, nomnomnom...
  3. Meanwhile Ted Cruz will try to ban abortions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Abortion is the only smart choicefor a woman who finds she's pregnant and positive for Zika at the same time.

  4. F* the Luddites by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Release those GMO mosquitos that eliminate the species spreading Zika