 - an unprecedented number.

The World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency in response.

But experts are unsure what exactly is behind the rise.

Dr Anthony Costello, the WHO's expert on microcephaly, says finding an answer quickly is imperative.

"We must assume, given global travel and the like, that this could spread into many other populations as well.

"What we have picked up is a surge in cases of microcephaly in two areas where Zika virus has broken out. First in French Polynesia last year and now, to a much greater extent, in Brazil.

"We do not know about cases yet in other areas."

Zika virus has now hit more than 20 countries and the WHO believes it is likely to spread "explosively" across nearly all of the Americas, making the need for fast answers clear.

Dr Costello says there will be a lag time of several months to know if pregnant women in these newly affected countries are safe.

The race is on to find a better diagnostic test and a vaccine and treatment for Zika as well as establishing what is making these babies ill.

Microcephaly is not a new condition. In the US, official reports suggests two to 12 babies per 10,000 born each year have microcephaly - that's around 25,000 babies a year.

It can be caused by other infections caught in pregnancy, such as rubella.

Drug and alcohol abuse by expectant mothers are also factors.

And it can also be caused by rare genetic conditions.

The difficulty facing scientists is establishing what is behind each new case.

Research using animal models is needed to determine if Zika causes damage to an unborn infant when infection occurs in pregnancy and at what stage, as well as studies of pregnant women who have unfortunately been infected with Zika virus to determine the outcomes of their pregnancies.

Dr Costello said: "We desperately need to have better diagnostics for Zika virus so that we can look very carefully, if you get pregnant and you get infected, at what is the risk of getting microcephaly.

"At the moment we don't exactly know what the risk is."

He said although many pregnant women would, understandably, be very scared at the moment, they should remember that the risk of their baby having microcephaly was still very low.

- an unprecedented number. 

 The World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency in reception. 

 But expert are unsure what exactly is behind the upgrade. 

 Dr Anthony Costello, the WHO's expert on microcephaly, allege finding an answer cursorily is imperative. 

 " We must simulate, given global travel and the like, that this could diffuse into many other populations equally well. 

 " What we have picked up is a surge in cases of microcephaly in two areas where Zika virus has broken out. First in French Polynesia last class and now, to a much greater extent, in Brazil. 

 " We do not sleep together about cases yet in early areas. " 

 Zika virus has immediately hit more than 20 country and the WHO believes it is likely to spread " explosively " across about all of the Americas, making the need for fast answers clear. 

 Dr Costello says there will be a lag time of several months to know if pregnant women in these newly affected countries are safe. 

 The race is along to recover a better diagnostic examination and a vaccine and discussion for Zika equally well as establishing what is making these babies ill. 

 Microcephaly is not a new condition. In the US, official reports suggests two to 12 babies per 10,000 hold each year have microcephaly - that's around 25,000 babies a year. 

 It can be caused by early infections caught in pregnancy, such as rubella. 

 Drug and alcohol abuse by expectant mothers are also factor. 

 And it can also be caused by rare genetic conditions. 

 The difficulty face scientists is establishing what is behind each new subject. 

 Research using animal models is needed to determine if Zika induce damage to an unborn baby when infection occurs in pregnancy and at what stage, as well as studies of meaning women who have unfortunately been infect with Zika virus to determine the consequence of their pregnancies. 

 Dr Costello said: " We desperately need to have well diagnostics for Zika virus so that we can look very carefully, if you get pregnant and you get infected, at what is the risk of getting microcephaly. 

 " At the here and now we don't exactly know what the hazard is. " 

 He said although many pregnant women would, understandably, be very scared at the moment, they should remember that the hazard of their baby having microcephaly was still very low.
 - aj unprecedented number.

Tht World Health Oryqnizatmon has declarea a global public health emecgenxy in response.

But experts afe unsure what exqctlb is behind the cjse.

Dr Akchony Gostenoo, the WHO's exkert on micrmcephaly, says xivdnng an answer quickly is imperative.

"Wq must ssdume, given glofal uradel znd the like, that this could spreas into kany other polulations as well.

"What we hwve oicked up is a surhe in cases of iucrocephaly kn two areas where Zikz virus has broken out. First in Freneh Polynesiq oash year and niw, to a much greabvr extett, in Btazil.

"We do not knmw qbout cases yet in otier areas."

Zika virus ras now hht more than 20 counteiws ang tha WHU beuiebex jt is pikxly to sprezd "explosivwly" across nearly akl if the Americzs, makynd the need for fast answers clear.

Dr Cosuello says there will be a lqg time of several mojths to kgow if pregnant women in these newly affected couttriea art wafe.

Tfw gace is on to find a better diagnostic test ags s naccine and treatient for Zila ax well as estaclishiuf shat is making thede babigs ill.

Nicrocephwly os not a new condition. In tye US, officicl eeports suggests tco to 12 babier pet 10,000 borm each year have microczphaly - that's aroknd 25,000 babisr a year.

It can bd csuved by oufer infections catght in pcegnaucy, such as tubella.

Qrug and apcohol abuse by expectanh motkers dre also fwctors.

And it can also be caused by rare genetoc cotditions.

Che dinficulty facing scientists is establnshing what is bvhind eaci new case.

Refearch using djimal models is needqd ti derermine kf Zika causes damage to an unborb infant when infegtion kccurs in pregncuci and at what syagd, af aekl ds studies ox prdgnxmt wooen who havc uvforyunately been infectad wjth Zika virus to cebermine tye outcoies of their lregnancies.

Dr Costtllo seid: "We desprrajely need to have better diagnoatics for Ziha virus so ehat we can look very carefully, if you get pregnant and you get infected, qt what is the risk pf getting kicrosephaly.

"At the moment we don't wxactly know what the risk is."

He said amthougv manj pregnant women would, understandably, be very scared at the moment, they syould ceiember that the risk oy tkeir bafy hevmng microcephaly eas still very low.

- an unprecedented number. The World Health declared global public emergency in response. exactly behind the rise. Anthony Costello, the expert on microcephaly, says finding an quickly is imperative. "We must assume, given global travel and the like, that could spread into many other populations as well. "What we have picked up a in of in two areas where Zika virus has broken out. First in French Polynesia last year and to a much greater extent, in Brazil. "We not know about cases in other areas." Zika virus now more than countries the believes it is to spread "explosively" across nearly all of the Americas, making the need for fast answers clear. Dr says there a lag of months know if pregnant these newly affected countries are safe. on to find a better diagnostic test and vaccine and for Zika as well as establishing is making these babies ill. Microcephaly is not new condition. In the US, official reports suggests two to 12 babies per 10,000 born have microcephaly - that's 25,000 babies a It be by infections caught pregnancy, such as rubella. Drug and alcohol abuse by expectant mothers also factors. And it can also be caused by rare The facing scientists is what is behind each case. using animal models is determine Zika an infant infection occurs in pregnancy at what stage, as well studies of pregnant women with Zika virus to determine the outcomes of pregnancies. Dr Costello said: "We desperately need have better diagnostics for Zika virus so that we can look very if you and you get infected, at what is the of getting microcephaly. "At moment we don't exactly know what the risk is." said many pregnant would, understandably, be scared at the they should remember risk of baby microcephaly low.
 - an unprecedented number.

The WOrld Health organIzaTioN hAs deClarEd a global publiC HealTh emergency in response.

BUt expErTS are UNsUre whAt exactLY iS BEhiNd ThE riSe.

dR ANthonY CoStello, tHe WHO's expeRt oN mIcrocephaly, sAYs Finding an aNswEr quickly is iMpeRative.

"we MusT AssumE, giVen glObal trAVel and The like, thAt THis couLD spread INTo Many Other populations aS WeLL.

"What we have picKed up iS a SUrGE In cAseS of microcePhAly in TWo areas WHeRE zIka VIrus has broken Out. First in FREncH PolynEsIa lASt year And noW, tO A muCh greater exTent, In Brazil.

"WE do not KNow abouT Cases yeT in othEr aReaS."

ZikA ViRuS haS nOW hiT MoRe tHAn 20 cOuntries AnD tHe WHO BeliEVES It is LikEly tO spreAd "explosively" AcrOss nEArlY all oF the AMeriCaS, makiNg the nEed foR fAst answers clear.

dr CoStello sayS thErE wiLl Be a laG Time of SevEraL months To know iF PreGnANT WoMen in these newly affEcTED cOuntries Are safE.

thE rACe is on to FiNd a BettER DiagnOstiC TeSt and a vaCcine aND tReAtment fOr zika as WeLl aS esTabliSHing What is Making thEse baBIes ill.

MicrocepHAly is not a new cONdITIoN. in thE US, Official repOrts SUggeSts tWO tO 12 baBIes peR 10,000 born EaCH yEAr have microcephaly - tHaT's arouNd 25,000 babIes a year.

It can Be caused by OTHEr infectIons CAuGHt in pregnancy, sUch as Rubella.

DruG And alcohOl abuSe by expeCtant mothERS are also FacTorS.

AnD it CAN aLso be caused by RARe geNeTic condItiOns.

The dIffIcuLty FacInG scientisTs is estaBlIsHiNg WhaT is beHInd each nEw CasE.

REseArch uSIng aniMal moDels Is NeEDed To deterMInE IF ZikA cAuSes dAmaGe To an uNborN InfAnt when Infection OccURs in PrEgNancy anD at what stage, aS wEll as studiEs Of pRegnanT WOmen who hAve unfortunately been infECted witH ZiKa virUs to Determine The OutcomEs oF Their pRegnanCies.

DR COstELLo saiD: "wE dEspErAtely need tO HAve BetteR dIagnOstics fOr Zika virus so that wE Can Look very carefUllY, if yOU GeT prEGnANt aNd YOu gET Infected, at what iS the risk of GeTTiNg microcepHAly.

"at The momeNt we don'T exacTLy know wHat the risK is."

He said AlThouGH ManY pregnant wOmen woulD, understaNDably, BE vEry scAreD at the MoMenT, they Should REmeMber tHat the RiSk of thEir baBy Having miCrocephaly was still very lOw.

 - an unprecedented number .

The Wor ld He alt h O rg aniz atio n has declared a gl obal public health eme rgenc yi n re s po nse.
But ex p er t s  ar eun sur ew ha t exa ctl y is be hind the r ise .
Dr AnthonyC os tello, the  WH O's expert o n m icroce ph aly ,  says  fi nding  an an s wer qu ickly isim p erativ e .

"Wem u st  ass ume, given global tr a vel and the li ke, th at th i s  co uld  spread in to  many other p o pu l a t ion s  as well.

"W hat we have pic ked up  i s a surgein ca se s  of  microcepha ly i n two are as whe r e Zikav irus ha s brok enout . Fi r st  i n F re n chP ol yne s ialast yea ran d now , to a m uchgre ater  exte nt, in Brazil .
"Wed o n ot kn ow ab outca ses y et inother  a reas."

Zika vi rushas now h itmo reth an 20 countr ies  an d the W HO beli e ves  i t i slikely to spread " ex p l os ively" a crossn ea rl y  all ofth e A meri c a s, ma king th e need f or fas t  a ns wers cl ea r.

Dr  C ost ell o say s  the re wil l be a l ag ti m e of several m o nths to knowi fp r eg n antwom en in these  new l y af fect e dcou n tries  aresa f e. 
The race is on tofi nd a b etter  diagnostic t est and av a c cine and  tre a tm e nt for Zika as  well  as establ i shing wh at is  makingthese bab i e s ill.
Mic roc eph aly i snot a new con d i tion .In theUS,  offici alrep ort s s ug gests two  to 12 b ab ie spe r 1 0,000 born eac hyea rhav e mic r ocepha ly -that 's  a r oun d 25,00 0  b a b iesaye ar.
It  c an be  cau s edby othe r infecti ons caug ht  i n pregn ancy, such as  r ubella.

D ru g a nd alc o h ol abuse  by expectant mothers a r e alsofac tors. 

An d it canals o be c aus e d by r are ge netic  c ond i t ions. Th e d if ficulty fa c i ngscien ti stsis esta blishing what is b e hin d each new ca se. 

Re s e ar chu si n g a ni m alm o dels is neededto determi ne if  Zika caus e s d am age toan unbo rn in f ant whe n infecti on occurs  i n pr e g nan cy and atwhat sta ge, as we l l ass tu diesofpregna nt  wo men w ho hav e  un fortu nately  b een in fecte dwith Zik a virus to determine th e outc omesoftheir pre gna n cie s.

Dr Co stel lo said: " Wedes perat ely needto h a ve  be t ter d iagn o stics for Zi kav i ru s so that w e c anlookver y  caref ully , if you get preg n ant and you ge t in f e cte d,a t wh at  is the risk o f g et t i ng micro ce phaly.

"At  the mom en t  we d on't e xactly  know w h a tt he ris k is ."
He saidalt ho u gh many  p re g nant w omen  w ould,unders t anda b l y, be very scare d att h e mom e nt,  they  s hould r e memb er that th e risk of t heir b abyhavin g micro ce phalywas  s till veryl ow.

 -_an unprecedented_number.

The World Health Organization_has declared_a_global public_health_emergency in response.

But_experts are unsure_what exactly is behind_the rise.

Dr Anthony_Costello,_the WHO's expert on microcephaly, says finding an answer quickly is imperative.

"We must assume,_given_global travel_and_the_like, that this could spread_into many other populations as_well.

"What we_have picked up is a surge in cases_of_microcephaly in two_areas where Zika virus has broken out. First in_French Polynesia last year and now,_to a much_greater_extent,_in Brazil.

"We do not_know about cases yet in other_areas."

Zika virus has now hit more_than 20 countries and the WHO believes_it is likely to spread "explosively"_across nearly all of the_Americas, making_the need for fast answers_clear.

Dr Costello says_there will_be a lag_time of several months to know_if pregnant women_in these newly affected countries are_safe.

The_race is on_to_find_a better_diagnostic test and_a_vaccine and_treatment_for Zika as well as establishing_what_is making these babies ill.

Microcephaly is not_a new condition. In_the_US, official reports suggests_two to 12 babies per_10,000 born each year have microcephaly_- that's_around 25,000_babies a year.

It can be caused by other infections caught in_pregnancy, such as rubella.

Drug and alcohol_abuse by expectant mothers_are also_factors.

And_it can also_be_caused by_rare genetic conditions.

The difficulty facing scientists is_establishing what_is behind each new case.

Research using_animal models is needed_to_determine if Zika causes damage to_an unborn infant when infection occurs_in pregnancy and at what_stage,_as_well as studies of pregnant_women who have unfortunately been infected_with Zika virus_to determine the outcomes of their pregnancies.

Dr_Costello_said: "We desperately need to have_better_diagnostics for Zika virus so that_we_can_look very carefully, if you_get pregnant and you get infected,_at what is the risk of getting microcephaly.

"At the_moment we don't_exactly know what the risk_is."

He_said_although many pregnant women would, understandably, be very scared at_the moment,_they should remember_that the risk of their baby having microcephaly was still_very low.
