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GM mosquitoes fire first salvo against Zika virus

Nature Biotechnology volume 34, pages 221–222 (2016)Cite this article

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Infections with the flavivirus Zika appear to be linked to a surge in the number of infants born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads. Nearly 5,000 cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since late last year, according to the Brazilian health ministry. Normally about 150 cases are reported there annually. “The link between Zika and microcephaly is very strong and comes from multiple lines of evidence,” says Ernesto Marques, a public health scientist specializing in vaccines at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

The outbreak has spread fastest in Latin America, but has reached more than 33 countries. In response, the World Health Organization in January declared Zika an international public health emergency.

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  1. Emily Waltz Nashville, Tennessee,

    Emily Waltz

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  1. Emily Waltz
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Waltz, E. GM mosquitoes fire first salvo against Zika virus. Nat Biotechnol 34, 221–222 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0316-221

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