The pattern of damage caused by Zika virus in the brains of 23 foetuses - a podcast by BMJ Group

In February World Health Organization (WHO) declared the microcephaly epidemic in South America an international public health emergency. Today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, has confirmed that it’s is Zika virus which is causing that microcephaly. The outbreak was originally spotted in Recife, in Brazil, and it’s from there that the authors of this research paper have been carrying out imaging of the skulls of babies born with microcephaly and probable Zika virus infection - to establish patterns of damage in the brain.

We're joined by Maria de Fatima Vasco Aragao, professor of radiology and scientific director of Multimagem Radiology Clinic, Recife. Also, Vanessa Van Der Linden, paediatric neurologist and clinic director of Association for Assistance of Disabled Children Recife.Read the full research:

http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i1901

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