Zika can cause microcephaly and other developmental problems in babies born to women who contracted Zika while pregnant. The CDC reports there are 1,057 pregnant women in the U.S. who have laboratory evidence of Zika, up 52 from last week’s update.
Researchers are working on ways to protect fetuses from the virus — a team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville announced this week they found a human antibody that prevented Zika from infecting fetuses in mice, for instance.
There were 4,175 total Zika cases in the U.S. as of Nov. 9, 139 of which were acquired by mosquitoes in Florida, according to the CDC. This week, voters in the Florida Keys approved a ballot measure to introduce genetically modified mosquitoes to limit the spread of the Zika virus.
Zika is also spread sexually, and the CDC reports there have been 34 sexually transmitted Zika infections in the U.S.
More articles on Zika:
CMS allocates $66M to support Zika prevention
Florida voters approve GMO mosquito for Zika fight
Human trials begin for Army-developed Zika vaccine
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