"New Link Between Zika and Microcephaly Is Found in Brazil"

"RECIFE, Brazil — Researchers in the state of Pernambuco, home to a third of Brazil’s suspected cases of infant microcephaly, said on Wednesday that they have identified some the clearest evidence yet of a direct link between the debilitating birth defect and the Zika virus.

Researchers here tested the spinal fluid of 12 babies with microcephaly, all of whom were born to mothers who reported having symptoms of Zika early in their pregnancies. In all 12 cases, the researchers found evidence of Zika — results they described as stunning.

“I was so surprised,” said Marli Tenório, an infectious disease expert at the Aggeu Magalhães Research Center. “Everybody wants to say, ‘It’s not Zika, it’s not Zika.’ I saw this and thought, ‘Wow, it’s Zika!'”"

Katie Worth reports for FRONTLINE February 3, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Sexual Transmission Is Just the Latest Zika Surprise" (National Geographic)

"Zika Could Change the Abortion Conversation in Latin America" (Newsweek)

"Florida Gov. Scott Declares A Health Emergency In 4 Counties Due To Zika Virus" (WFTV)

"On Brazil's Zika front lines, cases of microcephaly are actually dropping" (GlobalPost)