Is there a link between the Zika virus and a rash of birth defects in Brazil?

The plausible correlation between the Zika virus and an outbreak of microcephaly in Brazil is the subject of new research being conducted in both Brazil and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to Tech Times, researchers are attempting to explore a possible link between the Zika virus and the rising number of birth defects in Brazil.

Microcephaly is a rare birth defect that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads. While under normal circumstances there typically aren’t too many occurrences of this defect, it has been confirmed in over 500 recent births, with almost 1,000 suspected additional cases.

The research will involve examining mothers of the babies suffering from this condition. The babies themselves will be examined as well. It is the researchers hopes that looking at the blood of both the mothers and the children will lead them closer to determining the root cause of the outbreak.

“What we’re trying to do to to better define the association between children that have been diagnosed with microcephaly and whether or not they might have evidence of congenital Zika virus infection,” said Erin Staples, a researcher at the CDC.

Typically, there are around 150 instances of microcephaly in Brazil each year, among its population of 200 million. The sudden rise of this number to 500 has resulted in the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak an international health emergency.

“A new disease or syndrome like this is a global problem, and we are lucky that the Brazilians were very prompt and open with their experience,” said Anne Schuchat, principle deputy director of the CDC.

The initial results of the study are expects in May 2016, but the full analysis will most likely not be completed for several years due to the time it will take to process the data.