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1st LD: U.S. CDC concludes Zika causes microcephaly, other birth defects

Xinhua, April 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded Wednesday that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects.

The CDC said in a statement it reached the conclusion after "careful review of existing evidence" using established scientific criteria.

"This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak. It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly," said Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. CDC.

Frieden said the U.S. CDC is launching further studies to determine whether microcephaly, or an abnormally small head, is only "the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems." Endit