CDC Confirms Zika Causes Birth Defects, Calls For Intensified Efforts To Prevent Virus’s Spread

CNN: Zika virus definitely causes birth defects, CDC says
“The Zika virus causes microcephaly and other birth defects, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday…” (Goldschmidt, 4/13).

New York Times: Zika Virus Causes Birth Defects, Health Officials Confirm
“…The conclusion should settle months of debate about the connection between the infection and these birth defects, called microcephaly, as well as other neurological abnormalities, the officials said…” (Belluck/McNeil, 4/13).

PBS NewsHour: It’s confirmed. Zika virus causes microcephaly and other birth defects, CDC says
“…The health agency’s assessment is not based on a single piece of evidence, but rather months of careful evaluation and the growing number of reports showing a biological connection between the brain disorders. A synopsis of those findings has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine…” (Akpan, 4/13).

Reuters: Confirmation that Zika causes microcephaly shifts debate to prevention
“… ‘There isn’t any doubt that Zika causes microcephaly,’ Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters in a conference on Wednesday…” (Steenhuysen/Berkrot, 4/13).

Wall Street Journal: CDC Confirms Link Between Zika Virus and Birth Defects
“…[T]he agency said it hopes that declaring Zika a cause of birth defects in children will help to intensify efforts to raise public awareness of the risks of Zika infection, control the mosquitoes that spread the virus, and develop a vaccine against it…” (McKay, 4/14).

Washington Post: CDC confirms Zika virus causes microcephaly, other birth defects
“…It is the first time a mosquito-borne virus has been linked to congenital brain defects…” (Sun, 4/13).

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