Zika Virus May Not Cause Microcephaly — Study

In Colombia no case linking the disease with small heads of babies was found

PTI

Washington: The number of missing cases of microcephaly epidemic in several countries raises serious questions about the assumed connection between Zika virus and microcephaly, according to a new study.

In Brazil, the rate of microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected, soared with more than 1,500 confirmed cases.

However in Colombia, a recent study of nearly 12,000 pregnant women infected with Zika found zero microcephaly cases, researchers said.

According to a new report by the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) in the US, the number of missing cases in Colombia and elsewhere raises serious questions about the assumed connection between Zika and microcephaly.

Pregnant women

The results of a large study of pregnant Colombian women infected with Zika show that of the nearly 12,000 pregnant women with clinical symptoms of Zika infections until March 28, no cases of microcephaly were reported as of May 2.

(Source: GulfNews.com)