The federal government for the first time has concluded that the Zika virus causes devastating birth defects.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Zika causes a birth defect called microcephaly that causes babies to be born with small heads. The virus, spread primarily by mosquito bites, also causes birth defects similar to microcephaly.
The announcement comes as the White House and Congress battle over funding to fight the Zika virus.
The CDC has strongly suspected a link for months, but had to conduct more studies to make sure. Agency officials said the finding is historic.
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“Never before in history has there been a situation where a bite from a mosquito can result in a devastating malformation,” said Sonja Rasmussen, director of the CDC’s Division of Public Health Information Dissemination, during a Wednesday call with reporters.
More studies are needed to confirm how high of a risk pregnant women have of contracting microcephaly after being infected with Zika. The agency is also studying a link between Zika and the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which causes paralysis.
The conclusion on the link, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, comes months after studies detailed a link between Zika and birth defects. Rasmussen said CDC scientists conducted a careful review of existing data on the link between Zika and microcephaly.
“Increasing evidence from a number of recently published studies and a careful evaluation using established scientific criteria supports the authors’ conclusions,” the agency said.
So far the virus has spread to more than 50 countries and territories. The U.S. has more than 300 cases but almost all are from people who recently traveled to a country where the virus is spreading through mosquito bites.
Rasmussen said the confirmation of a link might help raise awareness about the virus.
“Surveys have told us that a lot of people aren’t concerned about Zika in the U.S. and don’t know about it,” she said. “My hope is now that we can be more convincing that Zika virus does cause severe birth defects in babies, [and] people will focus on our prevention methods more carefully.”
The CDC’s recommendations for women surrounding the virus have not changed. It still recommends that pregnant women and women of childbearing age not travel to areas where the virus is spreading.
The agency adds that people should wear long sleeves and use insect repellent to help prevent mosquito bites. In addition, people should eliminate standing water in bowls or flower pots as mosquitoes can breed in standing water.
CDC officials have said there will be “limited outbreaks” of Zika as mosquito season starts. A recent study estimated that about 50 cities are vulnerable to Zika, with hot and humid cities in Florida and Texas most vulnerable.
The World Health Organization has not made a similar confirmation on a link. The WHO also strongly suspects a link between Zika and birth defects.
Meanwhile, Congress and the White House are fighting over funding to fight the expected outbreak.
The White House asked Congress for $1.8 billion in emergency funding, but GOP lawmakers have said the administration should use leftover Ebola outbreak funds.
President Obama agreed to use more than $500 million of Ebola funding to fight Zika, but still urged Congress to act on the request.
The House passed a bill Tuesday intended to speed up development of Zika treatments. The legislation now goes to the president’s desk and Obama is expected to sign it.
However, White House spokesman Josh Earnest slammed Congress’ effort on Wednesday, calling it a “meager accomplishment.” Earnest urged Congress to pass the funding request.
