5 reasons to think the Zika Virus causes Microcephaly

The World Health Organization believes that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other neurological disorders. Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development in infants. Scientist are currently conducting a study with 5,000 pregnant women that have been infected with Zika previously and women who have not. There goal is to see if the pregnant women have more children with microcephaly. Scientist have evidence that can link the Zika virus to microcephaly. First, in Brazil there have been cases of infants born with microcephaly. As early as August the numbers have been going up from the usual one or two babies with it to now five or more. Many of these mothers previously had the Zika infection. In Brazil theres normally an average of 163 cases and now there are 944 cases. Second, French Polynesia is now experiencing an increase in microcephaly cases. Third, the virus crosses the placenta and can reach the fetus. Zika virus has been found in amniotic fluid surrounding microcephalic babies and it has been found in the brain of fetuses that died in the womb. Fourth, it also attacks the brain cells. Studies have shown that the virus is neurotropic, targeting nerve cells, including the ones that eventually become the baby's brain. Lastly, a small study found a big difference in birth defects. The outcomes included fetal death, tiny heads, shrunken placentas, and fetal nerve damage that suggested blindness. 

Its great that scientists are beginning to discover the effects of the zika virus and the damage it can cause to not only the individual but also to a child given birth by someone who has had it. This virus needs all the research that can possibly be done for it. It is now affecting infants and that is scary because it is presenting to their life a lot of abnormalities as well as multiple disorders. This study demonstrates evidence that Zika virus is in fact a cause of microcephaly in infants.

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