USA – United States health officials have confirmed the worst fears of many pregnant women in the US and Latin America by saying there is no longer any doubt the Zika virus causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and other severe brain defects. Since last year, doctors in Brazil have been linking Zika infections in pregnant women to a rise in newborns with microcephaly, or an unusually small skull. Most outside experts were cautious about drawing such a connection. But now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says enough evidence is in.  “There is no longer any doubt that Zika causes microcephaly,” CDC Director Dr Tom Frieden said. The CDC said it is also clear that Zika causes other serious defects, including damaging calcium buildups in the developing brain.

(The Independent UK/AP)…[+]