CDC: Evidence may link mosquito-borne virus, birth defects

RIO DE JANEIRO — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says researchers have found the strongest evidence so far of a possible link between a mosquito-borne virus and a surge of birth defects in Brazil.

The CDC said Wednesday that researchers found the dengue-like Zika virus in the babies of two women who miscarried and two newborns who died. Those who were born had small heads, a rare condition known as microcephaly.

CDC’s director of mosquito-borne diseases is Dr. Lyle Petersen and he says that finding the virus in brain tissue is “very significant.”

Brazil’s government says 3,530 babies have been born with microcephaly in the country since October, compared to fewer than 150 cases in 2014.

Zika virus has been spreading rapidly through parts of Central and South America and has recently been detected in areas closer to the United States. The first cases in Mexico were reported in November and the disease reached Puerto Rico in December.

A case of Zika virus was diagnosed last week in Texas, CBS Houston affiliate KHOU reported. Health officials said that patient was believed to have been infected during recent travel to El Salvador.

Zika virus is spread by the same Aedes mosquito as dengue fever and chikunguya. It can be transmitted from one person to another when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites someone else.

There is no vaccine to prevent it and no medicine to treat Zika virus infection.

According to the CDC, common symptoms of the illness include fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes. Other symptoms can include muscle pain, headache, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting. Most patients experience relatively mild symptoms and recover within a few days to a week.

CDC recommends that all people, especially pregnant women, who are traveling to Brazil and other areas in Latin America, should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce their risk of infection with Zika virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses.