News Roundup – Zika Virus Fears Spreading

Top Stories for the Week

As busy parents, there is a lot to do on any given day, and we realize that keeping up with the latest health news takes time. That’s why we periodically bring you news to keep your family healthy. Here are some of the stories we think you should know.

Zika is still in the news and looks like it will be a topic of conversation for the foreseeable future, especially with summer approaching, which brings mosquitos with it. Read more from the Centers for Disease Control on the prevention of Zika and how to protect your infants http://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/index.html

New research shows that women who are infected with the Zika virus during their first trimester of pregnancy may have up to a 13% chance of their baby developing microcephaly, which often prevents the brain from fully developing.

Read the full story: For Zika-infected pregnancies, microcephaly risk may be as high as 13 percent

Another study of babies in Brazil that have been affected by Zika are showing a range of serious eye problems, more than were previously known. Among the eye problems are bleeding in the retina, missing blood vessels in the retina, and lesions in the central part of the retina. These conditions could lead to blindness.

Read the full story: Growing number of problems found in Brazilian babies affected by Zika

In other news, research shows that children of low socioeconomic status are more susceptible to mental illness. This may be due to DNA and brain changes that happen over time as a result of stressors that can affect development.

Read the full story: Poverty linked to epigenetic changes and mental illness

What else are you curious about? Email us to let us know what health topics are important to you or that you want to know more about.