Zika might cause deafness in babies, new study finds
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest report on Zika out Tuesday revealed the virus may also cause hearing loss in infants born to infected mothers. A study of about 70 babies with microcephaly in Brazil found that about 6 percent suffered from hearing loss, caused by damage to either the inner ear or the nerve connecting the ear and the brain. Researchers were unable to find any other likely cause of hearing loss, leading the CDC to advise that hearing loss may be another of the health problems caused by the mosquito-borne illness.
Zika has primarily been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and an underdeveloped brain. Recently, researchers have also linked Zika to "vision problems and joint deformities," Reuters reported.
The CDC is now recommending that babies exposed to Zika virus are regularly checked for hearing loss after birth.