In the U.S. as of June 9, three infants have been born with Zika-related birth defects and three pregnancies were lost due to miscarriages or abortions incited by birth defects linked to Zika, according to information reported by the CDC on Thursday.
In all six cases, the women's Zika infections were travel-related. The CDC will continue to update the instances of Zika-related birth defects in the U.S. as the nation moves deeper into summer and the risk of local transmission increases.
In a statement, the CDC said its top priority in the fight against Zika is "to protect pregnant women and women of childbearing age because of the potential risks associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Reporting the poor outcomes of pregnancies with any laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection will contribute to our understanding of the ongoing effect of Zika virus among pregnant women in [the] U.S. and ensure that the most up-to-date information about pregnancy outcomes linked with Zika virus is publicly available."
Birth defects associated with Zika infection include microcephaly and other fetal brain defects, abnormal eye development and nerve damage.
To find out where Zika has been reported in the U.S. as of June 10, click here.
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