Zika link to microcephaly, neurological disorders show 'strong scientific consensus': WHO

Researchers are now convinced that the Zika virus is linked to the birth defect microcephaly, with dozens of suspected cases under investigation in Colombia, and to Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological disorder that can cause paralysis, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

32 babies with microcephaly in Colombia under investigation

Thomson Reuters Posted: Mar 31, 2016 5:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 31, 2016

Researchers are now convinced that the Zika virus is linked to the birth defect microcephaly,with dozens of suspected cases under investigation in Colombia,and to Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological disorder that cancause paralysis, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

In its previous weekly report, the United Nations agencysaid the mosquito-borne virus that is spreading across LatinAmerica and the Caribbean was "highly likely" to be a cause.

"Based on observational, cohort and case-control studies, there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika virus is acause of GBS (Guillain-BarrSyndrome), microcephaly and otherneurological disorders," the WHO said in an update.

Six countries where Zika virus is not known to be spreadingby mosquitos have now reported locally acquired infection,

probably through sexual transmission, it said, naming Argentina,Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United States.

The WHO declared the Zika outbreak an international healthemergency on Feb. 1, citing a "strongly suspected" relationshipbetween Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly.

Though Zika has not been proven to cause microcephaly inbabies, there is growing evidence that suggests a link. The

condition is defined by unusually small heads that can result indevelopmental problems.

Microcephaly and other fetal malformations have also beenreported in Colombia, where 56,477 suspected cases of Zika virusincluding 2,361 laboratory-confirmed have been reported.

Thirty-two babies have been reported as being born withmicrocephaly in Colombia this year and they remain under

investigation to establish the association with Zika virus, theWHO said, citing figures provided by the country on March 30.

Two babies from Cabo (Cape) Verde in Africa have also beenreported as having microcephaly, it said.

To date, 13 countries or territories have reported increasedincidence of Guillain-Barre and/or laboratory confirmation of aZika virus infection among GBS cases, it added.

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Zika situation report, World Health Organization

Zika link to microcephaly, neurological disorders show 'strong scientific consensus': WHO

32 babies with microcephaly in Colombia under investigation

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