Zika Virus Causes Microcephaly

Brazil, there has been a recent outbreak of cases where infants are found to be born with microcephaly. Scientist is building a case whether or not the Zika Virus is the leading cause of why infants are born with microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition where the head circumference is smaller than normal size and can be caused by genetic mutations from use of drugs and alcohol or from certain virus and toxins that the fetus is exposed to and leads to damaging the developing brain tissue. A airborne virus is currently spreading through the Americas. It is carried by the stealth virus, most often borne on the wings of a ubiquitous predator, is spreading across the Americas. The Zika virus is carried by the mosquito from Aedes family. Zika virus was first discovered in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkey. …show more content…
It can be spread through Aedes species mosquito, blood contact, and through sexual intercourse. The Zika virus is thought to be the leading cause of microcephaly, but the article talks about why it is the leading cause and why it isn't. Major findings for why Zika virus causes microcephaly is that virus RNA has been found in placenta, amniotic fluid, and brain tissues of stillborn babies with microcephaly. According to the CDC one woman who have traveled to a foreign country with Zika, her child was born with microcephaly.Recent studies have begun to show the damage of human cells when in contact with Zika. The virus reacted wild in neural progenitor cells (very early cells that give rise to the bulk of the brain), infecting up to 90 % of cells in a