Zika virus 'scarier' than first thought, officials say
THE Zika virus is "scarier" than first thought and the mosquito that spreads it is now present in about 30 US states, top American health officials say.
The virus is linked to a broader set of complications with pregnancy, not just shrunken head or microcephaly, but also prematurity, blindness and other conditions, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
There was deep concern about Puerto Rico where they may be hundreds of thousands of cases, principal deputy director of the CDC Dr Anne Schuchat said.
"Scarier than we initially thought": US officials concerned by Zika virus' impact https://t.co/EcEuIeGchh
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She said there was hope there would not be broad transmission across the US mainland, but that authorities needed to be prepared.
"Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought," Dr Schuchat said.
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