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Health Check: More Problems for Zika Babies

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2018/09/05 GMT

BBC World Service - Health Check, More Problems for Zika Babies

Babies born to women infected with Zika virus – more problems emerge in first year

Babies born to women infected with Zika virus; Brazilian families affected by Zika need more support; the strains of a world record attempt – cycling across Europe

The Zika epidemic which spread across Latin America in 2015/16 prompted the Brazilian government to advise women to delay getting pregnant – because of the link with babies born with heads smaller than usual – or microcephaly - after their mothers were infected.  The number Zika cases has dropped dramatically – but now a new study in the United States highlights that some affected children in places like Puerto Rico have continued to  develop problems with their brains and eyesight. Peggy Honein from America’s CDC says that the Zika story is certainly not over for those families. BBC Brazil’s correspondent Julia Carneiro has been to meet families in Recife, the Brazilian city which saw the highest number of cases.  Many of the mothers are now caring alone for their children who have problems with swallowing, epilepsy and cannot walk.  

A cyclist attempting to break the world record for the fastest cycle across Europe is about to begin his quest – supported by a team from the University of Derby’s Human Performance Unit in the UK. They’re hoping to create a “how-to” guide for wannabe record breakers – including how to reach peak fitness in body and mind. 

(Photo: Ana Katrielle, with her mother Ana Paula who contracted Zika virus during  her pregnancy, and her older brother 
Copyright: Fernando Cavalcanti)

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