Article content

A case of the foreign mosquito-borne Zika virus — linked to small heads in newborns — is now confirmed in Alberta.

The virus causes flu-like symptoms, but carries an additional risk to pregnant women, with a Brazilian investigation in 2015 finding an “average 20-fold increase in the incidence of microcephaly (abnormally small head) among newborns” born in areas where Zika virus has been found.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A case of Zika virus, which can cause small heads in newborns, confirmed in Alberta Back to video

Following several outbreaks in South and Central America since May 2015, University of Alberta virologist Tom Hobman said Zika is likely “to get a lot worse before it gets better” as the disease is spreading globally at an “unprecedented” pace

“By comparison, West Nile took years just to spread across North America,” Hobman said. “It’s pretty incredible.”

Hobman, a professor in the cell biology department of the U of A’s faculty of medicine and dentistry, received Zika samples at his lab Jan. 20 as his team works to pinpoint diagnostic tools and therapies to fight the virus.