Zika and the Developing Brain
"Although the harmful effects of the Zika virus are yet to be mitigated, researchers around the world are racing to create an effective vaccine"
On February 1st, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus epidemic a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” More than year after the outbreak of this pressing global issue, vaccines have still not entered the market and the Zika virus has spread to almost every country in the western hemisphere.4 Yet, the Zika virus causes only “mild” symptoms such as fever and joint pain, so what is all this fear and panic really about?
Every since the Zika virus was first discovered in the forests of Uganda in 1947, scientists have known about this disease. However, the recent outbreak of the virus in Brazil has revealed a shocking complication that had never been noticed before. Babies born to mothers who were infected with Zika during their pregnancy have a highly elevated risk of developing mild to severe brain deformities.2 This complication which is commonly known as microcephaly -- an
all and underdeveloped brain -- can cause seizures, developmental delays, and intellectual disability.3 Moreover, doctors and scientists have found that many cases also involve enlarged ventricles with excess cerebrospinal fluid that fill the “vacuum” left by damaged areas of the brain. This phenomenon can make fetal skulls appear normally sized early in pregnancy, despite a severe lack of fetal brain tissue.6 Collectively, these brain abnormalities caused by the virus are known as Congenital Zika Syndrome, and scientists have only recently begun to understand many of the underlying mechanisms causing these tragic complications of the Zika virus.8
Image from: CDC
By: Alan Balu