Zika Brain Damage ‘Worse Than Reported’, Says Neurologist

A leading paediatric neurologist has said that the damage caused to the brains of babies affected by Zika virus is much worse than health officials are telling the public. While previous research suggested that newborns of mothers who had Zika virus infection during pregnancy were more at risk of developing microcephaly, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development, a solid link has yet to be proven. However, Dr. William Dobyns, who was emailed images by a specialist in Brazil, told The Daily Beast the cases of microcephaly suspected to be the result of Zika virus are some of the worst he’s seen in more than 30 years of study.

“In these kids with Zika you see really severe microcephaly,” he said. “The heads are probably minus five to six standard deviations below the norm, and that’s really small. If the appearance of the head seems problematic, the brain is worse.”

As the World Bank estimates the cost of lost tourism due to Zika virus in the hardest hit destinations to exceed $63.9 billion, The World Health Organisation (WHO) has given the go-ahead for trials of genetically modified mosquitoes designed to halt the spread of the disease. MORE: Zika: 10 Facts Every Pregnant Woman Should Know  Main Image: Jackeline, 26, holds her son who is 4-months old and born with microcephaly, in front of their house in Olinda, near Recife, Brazil. Photo credit: REUTERS/Nacho Doce