HEADLINES Published February24, 2016 By Beatrice Asuncion

WHO Speaks Out About Rumors Surrounding the Zika Virus

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Brazil Faces New Health Epidemic As Mosquito-Borne Zika Virus Spreads Rapidly
(Photo : Mario Tama | Getty Images News)

There is no denying how the spread of the Zika Virus across the globe has been alarming. What used to be a non-fatal disease endemic to tropical regions, has now spread to 30 different countries including the United States, Canada and South Africa. The outbreak has since caused global panic especially since the spikes in Zika cases have correlated with the increase in babies born with birth defects.

Scientists and researchers have admitted that not a lot of studies have been done surrounding the virus and the birth defect in the past. And because of the lack of information, most of the speculated complications of Zika have been mere assumptions. Recently, rumors claiming that something else other than the mosquito-borne virus has caused microcephaly and other birth defects  have begun taking shape.

According to residents of Pernambuco in Brazil, the rise in cases of microcephaly in their area is not caused by the Zika Virus. They claim that the defects are caused by vaccines that the government recently dispensed.

They're pushing this story about the mosquitos because they're worried about indemnity - they don't want to have to pay everyone for the damage their vaccines are causing, it would be too expensive to tell the truth. So they say it's mosquitos causing microcephaly" quipped Luciana Dilva dos Santos a resident of Pernambuco.

The World Health Organization or WHO has since spoken out about the persistent rumors. In a statement sent out five days ago, the organization assures the general public that multiple studies have been conducted in order to ascertain the link of vaccines to birth defects. In all the research, no evidence of causation have been proven.

"An extensive review of the literature published in 2014 found no evidence that any vaccine administered during pregnancy resulted in birth defects" read a part of the WHO's official press release. 

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