The world should prepare for a "global epidemic" of microcephaly, a condition which restricts head growth in foetuses, as the Zika virus takes root in new countries, researchers said Friday. This "striking association", the researchers wrote in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, led them to "conclude that the microcephaly epidemic is a result of congenital Zika virus infection". "We recommend ... that we prepare for a global epidemic of microcephaly and other manifestations of congenital Zika syndrome." In most people, including pregnant women, it is benign with mild or no symptoms. This meant a very high percentage of pregnant women overall had been infected in Brazil's Zika epidemic area.

Source: Egypt Independent September 15, 2016 23:03 UTC