Apr 4, 2017

New study finds Zika birth defects in 44 states across the U.S.

A new study reports 24 of 250 pregnant women with a Zika infection had a fetus or baby with birth defects related to the virus in 2016, per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Zika infection can cause damage to the brains of developing fetuses, ranging from microcephaly and brain abnormalities to vision or hearing problems after birth. The CDC monitored 1000 mothers, mostly exposed to the virus during travel to other countries, living in 44 different states between January 15 and December 27, 2016.

Why it matters: This study suggests that Zika birth defects in the U.S. are higher than anticipated and shows the problem is no longer confined to the southern U.S. The report also found just 1 in 4 babies born to mothers with possible infection received brain imaging after birth to help diagnose defects, underscoring the need for healthcare providers not only to educate patients about Zika prevention but to provide clinical care.

Go deeper

Rashaan Ayesh

Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the U.S., Axios is answering readers' questions about the pandemic — how it spreads, who's at risk, and what you can do to stay safe.

What's new: This week, we answer five questions on smokers' vulnerability, food safety, visiting older parents, hair cut needs, and rural vs. urban impact.

To the answers21 mins ago - Health

Alison Snyder, Eileen Drage O'Reilly

The other coronavirus test we need

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Researchers are racing to develop tests that detect whether someone may have developed immunity to the coronavirus, which could help society return to normal faster.

Why it matters: These tests could help people know if they are able to go back to work, as well as aid researchers in tracking the scale and death rate of the disease — key data for current and future pandemic policies.

Go deeper23 mins ago - Health

Sam Baker

What the U.S. can learn from other countries in the coronavirus fight

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Note: Cases are shown on a logarithmic scale; Chart: Naema Ahmed/Axios

The countries that have most successfully fended off the novel coronavirus have mainly done it with a combination of new technology and old-school principles.

Why it matters: There's a lot the U.S. can learn from the way other countries have handled this global pandemic — although we may not be able to apply those lessons as quickly as we'd like.

Go deeper27 mins ago - Health