the spike of cases of microcephaly in brazil has caused panic in countries. large numbers of babies compromised from birth, beyond the individual family tragedy, that's just about the last thing those countries need. we'll explain what you need to know about a virus on the move this time on "inside story." i want to welcome back two men who have helped us understand new disease threats before. lawrence is the director of the o'neal institute at georgetown university, and this doctor, assistant of medicine. doctor, let me start with you. what do we need to know about this virus? is it one of a family of similar viruss that we do know more about? >> it is. zika is part of a well-known family of viruses that include west nile fever and others that people are probably very familiar with. however, this virus was really a travel medicine oddity, and we're only learning a lot about it because of this major outbreak. it used to be considered a mild disease, but we're learning that may not be the full story. >> so can diseases like that change either in their home, in

called microcephaly.. because their children have it..local 12's liz bonis shares their story. 3 {**nat of calvin with mohammed **{** vo calvin and mohammed,, are both three years old.. they are two of slightly more than 100 children known to be born with a genetic condition known as {** sot **{** vo ** microcephaly means small head --for calvin --{** sot **< 2:40: 43 because it's progressive microcephaly , which means his heads gonna stop growing ,, the rest of him is going to keep growing.> {** vo **the same is also likely true for mohammed. these two playmates met group.{** sot **< ousman ( oohsmaan) dibba ( dee-bah)/ father 2:52: 45 they play their own little games,, it's just wonderful really.>{** vo **mohammeds family knew of his diagnosis from birth --{** sot **< mariama ( mary -aah- muh) diatta ( dee -ah-tah) / mother 2:55: 11 he's my baby, i just thank god for giving me wonderful chil

but the big difference here is the microcephaly. next i'd like to talk about what based on what we know today is likely to happen over the coming weeks and months. and what we're doing about it to protect americans. first, we will discover more each and every day. and i'll show you later today some new data that was just released within the past hour. we'll learn about maternal to child transmission, about any possible cofactors such as other infections or nutritional factors that may increase or decrease a woman's likelihood of having the zika infection transmitted to her fetus. we'll learn more about the relationship with both microcephaly and gbs from studies we're doing today with partners in brazil, colombia, puerto rico and other places. we'll develop better diagnostics. currently we can diagnose the active zika infection. if someone is sick with zika, we can find it in their blood. but if it's a couple of weeks or couple of months later, figuring out if they've had zika is very complex. and cdc scientists have worked for year

a fact sheet on microcephaly in boston children hospitals notes some children with microcephaly have normal intelligence and experience no particular difficulty with school work. however, many children with the disease especially those with severe cases face mild to significant learning disabilities, impaired motor functions, difficulty with movement and balance and speech delays. in the meantime we must work harder to prevent maternal infections and devise compassionate ways to any child born from this or any other infection is welcomed, love and gets the care that he or she needs. usaid's ariel menendez will say we need to support best practices. children with disabilitiessuppo well. and a brazilian journalist born with microcephaly told the bbc in a february 5th interview that the conditions, and i quote her in part, is a box of surprises. you may suffer from serious problems or you may not. on the day i was born, she says, the doctor said i had no chance of survival. she will not walk, she will not talk. but he like many others the doctor that is, was wrong. i grew up, went to sc

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with unusually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly report sewed far in brazil. pregnant women fear other side effects from the virus. >> the public doesn't know everything. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. >> reporter: tourism will likely suffer despite officials downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february 5th. health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the events like this wrestling match are already under way. athletes are using bug spray staying indoors. >> kind of scary. >>> if you are planning taking a trip to niagara falls. go soon. new york state is making plans to dewater the falls on the u.s. side. two historic bridges are in desperate need of repair the to get that done they have to reroute the river at least for a time. vinita nair has more from the falls. >> reporter: you see and hear the roaring falls,

but they are reckless and their children are being born with microcephaly. it is not good. the virus has caught the world's attention and rio de janeiro is taking the challenge seriously, with the health minister himself out on the streets. >> particularly, pregnant women should not come to brazil. it is a difficult situation. we are telling pregnant women here they have to be very careful. but some refuse to let fear get to them. this pregnant women sex she does everything to protect herself that demand action from the government. >> the health officials should have attacked the problem and that it would not have come to this. action at carnival is all well and good, but it is no joke. it is very serious. guest: the olympics in august will be an even bigger challenge with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected. but by then, it is winter and hardly any rain. with that, hopes the tiger mosquito will keep away. brent: it will take a short break and on we come back, more news and business news as well. stick around. >> what do you get for $.50? >> for $.50? >> not a lot. >

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with unusually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly report sewed far in brazil. pregnant women fear other side effects from the virus. >> the public doesn't know everything. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. >> reporter: tourism will likely suffer despite officials downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february 5th. health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the summer olympics in august. are already under way. athletes are using bug spray staying indoors. >> kind of scary. nothing really you can do. if you get bit you get bit. >> the cbs overnight news will be right back.exams. so why do i do it? because i get paid. und... on this side of the glove i know prostate exams can save lives. so, if you are a man over 50, talk to you doctor to see if a prostate exam is right for you. if we can do it, so can you. >>> if you ar

in response to the possible link between zika infection and microcephaly, what can you do if you are early in a pregnancy or contemplating getting pregnant in a country that's turning up morens by the day? terminating your pregnancy would be crime in many countries in latin america and the cri carib. prenatal care spotty and unavailable and there's no court of appeal, no cure no treatment for a baby born with the devastating condition. brazil has seen an enormous spike in microcephaly, that corresponds to the spike in zika virus infections. lucia newman reports. >> it's carnival time in brazil but nothing festive for scores of pregnant women whose babies are being diagnosed with microcephaly. rebecca who caught the disowks whezikavirus in her second monta primary suspect. >> your baby's head looks normal so far but it's too early to know for sure. we need to know seven weeks. >> reporter: every day more and more people are being infected by zika virus and mothers are giving birth with to babies with microcephaly. the speculation about the consequences of the zika virus are spreading

microcephaly isnncern when it comes to zika virus. a debilitating form of paralysis has been on the rise in places ig question, though, is whether zika is the cause. to answer this, dr. ashley sachinsky, first-year detective with cdc, took us with her as n investigation in partnership with the brazilian health ministry. samples. looking for a possible link rare andn. doing? >> well, it's -- humbling. because of the significance of the public health problem. but it's also sort of exciting to be onve side and figure it out in realtime. >> reporter: the summer olympics many questions remain. preparations have begun, including fumigating the mainmosquitos. late last week, rio's olympic committee said they were confident athletes in brazil will be completely safe. but american wrestler alisa lape, who is in the games, isn't so sure vinita nair she says she's being cautious. >> wearing bug spray, i guess. i haven't really been outside the hotel.k that's really helping. yeah. it's kind of scary. >> reporter: the reality is we are just starti

roughly 150 cases of microcephaly occurred in brazil in 2014. last year, there were more than 4,000. anna's mother bruna tells us her zika infection happened when she was 12 months pregnant. the last in her family to get it but they were all sick. fever, headache, rash. nobody imagined it could affect >> when during your pregnancy did you know that there was a problem with anna beatrice? >> translator: never. >> reporter: anna's condition wasn't picked up until the room. doctors told her anna would only the odds. >> she's looking at you. does she recognize you? >> translator: uh-huh. >> reporter: every case of microcephaly is different but many doctors and scientists say the big rise in cases has a common cause. a mosquito carrying the zika virus. 80% of those infected with zika don't feel sick, no symptoms at all. but for those who are pregnant, evidence is growing that it can be a disaster. >> to control this outbreak the government is trying to reach 50 million houses across the country every month, sending in the military and public health t

vanessa van der linden saw her first case of microcephaly back in august. soon more infants with the same condition. the same unusually small head. >> during two weeks, in september, we saw five cases of babies with microcephaly. >> reporter: her mother anback also a doctor, phoned with troubling news. >> she called me, vanessa, now i see seven babies with microcephaly in the same day. >> reporter: when you heard that, what did you think? >> it's a new disease, it's something very strange. that causes immune problems. >> reporter: you were like detectives? >> yes, yes. >> reporter: after yiewlg out the usual causes, they looked for other clues. 70% of the women reported a rash during pregnancy, a symptom that helped lead them to the main suspect, zika. rayane canpelo and elvis torres' in october. this is her first child. "if any mother or father could choose," she said, "they would choose to have a normal baby, a healthy baby, but because you cannot choose, i am going to love my daughter." >> we can't go back and change something here in brazil, but you can

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with unusually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported so far in in brazil. pregnant women fear other side effects from the virus. >> the public doesn't know everything about the disease. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. >> reporter: tourism will likely suffer despite officials downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february 5th. health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the events like this wrestling match are already under way. athletes are using bug spray staying indoors. >> kind of scary. nothing really you can do. if you get bit you get bit. >> the cbs overnight news will be right back. when the engines failed on the plane i was flying, i knew what to do to save my passengers. but when my father sank into depression, i didn't know how to help him. when he ultimately shot himself, he left our family

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with ununually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microphaly have been reported so far in in brazil. pregnana women fear other side effects fromomhe virus. >> the public doesn't know everything about the disease. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. suffer despite officicls downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february 5th. health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the summer olympics in august. events le this wrestling match are already under way. athletes are using bug spray staying indoors. >> kind of scary. nothing really you can do. if you get bit you get bit. be right back. when the engines failed on the plane i was flying, i knew what to do to save my passengers. but when my father sankkinto depression, i didn't know how to help him. when he ultimately shot himself, he left our family devastated. don't let this happen to you

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with unusually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly report sewed far in brazil. pregnant women fear other side effects from the virus. >> the public doesn't know everything. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. >> reporter: tourism will likely suffer despite officials downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february 5th. health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the summer olympics in august. events like this wrestling match are already under way. athletes are using bug spray nothing really you can do. >>> if you are planning taking a trip to niagara falls. go soon. new york state is making plans to dewater the falls on the u.s. side. two historic bridges are in desperate need of repair the to get that done they have to reroute the river at least for a time. vinita nair has more from the falls. >> reporter: you see and hear

a young man was born microcephaly. it changed the lives of this family but formed a bond stronger than you can possibly imagine. >> the earliest memory i have is i remember our family doctor told my mom, you know, about his condition. i just remember crying. i remember crying and going what is wrong? >> a barry wilson will never forget the day his baby brother >> it is hard to take it in. i tried to make everything as normal as possible. >> that is where their bond began. the very first day barry saw his infant brother, born with a condition called microcephaly. >> i would do anything for him. its at the point where i look for him. i would do anything. he has become my life at this point. >> barry vowed from the start that he would be darryl's protector, best friend and would never leave his side and he has made good on that promise. 18 years later, darryl functions on a 1st grade level, has health problems and needs 24-hour care. despite his limitations, his heart is full of love to give. >> i was devastated. absolute

when which means they are finding the zika virus in some babies with microcephaly. they have to find out whether it is a cause and affect, whether it is the virus causing i. inn the meantime we have to protect pregnant woman. >> do you agree that it is not a major threat here in our country. >> except for travelers, pregnant women traveling. i will he a make a point to underline. that there is 50 to 100 million cases of dengue fever riding on that same mosquito. we have been worried about dengue taking root here. it hasn't. zika also won't take root here in the united states because we don't have the same breeding grounds. we should get rid of the mosquitos at the source because people want to travel to south america and want to travel to the caribbean. pregnant women want to travel. i agree with the travel advisory this time around. i don't think it's wise for the pregnant women to be traveling to these areas. >> the numbers are relatively small. it's better not to panic. this woman who visited the air area. protect yourself. but if you are pregnant don't go. if yo

the big difference is the microcephaly. i would like to talk about, based on what we know today is likely to happen over the next coming weeks and months. i want to talk about what we are doing to protect americans. first, we will discover more each and every day. i will show you later in the day, some new data that was released within the last hour. we will learn about child to child transmission, about cofactors, including other factors that may increase or decrease a woman's likelihood of having the infection transmitted to her fetus. we will learn about the relationship with microcephaly from studies we are doing with partners and purcell, colombia and other places. we will develop better diagnostics. currently, we can diagnose the active zika infection. we can find it in their blood. if it is a couple weeks or couple months later, figuring out if they had zika is very complex. cdc scientists have worked for years to develop tests for that. we have a test but it is one that can have false positives for prior infections.

the virus suspected of causing increase in microcephaly. children born with unusually small heads often with brain damage. more than 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported so far in in brazil. pregnant women fear other side effects from the virus. >> the public doesn't know everything about the disease. we don't know, exactly the consequence of it only microcephaly. >> reporter: tourism will likely suffer despite officials downplaying risks to visitors. rio's carnival begins, february health workers here took to the streets armed with instruments and information. and brazil set to host the summer olympics in august. events like this wrestling match are already under way. athletes are using bug spray staying indoors. >> kind of scary. nothing really you can do. selling mattresses the traditional way isn't the best way. tmost are made in a large factory, p and shipped hundreds of miles p to a retailers warehouse, p where they're marked up and up p before finally selling and delivering them pat the original mattress factory p

the big difference is the microcephaly. i would like to talk about, based on what we know today is likely to happen over the next coming weeks and months. i want to talk about what we are doing to protect americans. first, we will discover more each and every day. i will show you later in the day, some new data that was released within the last hour. we will learn about maternal to child transmission, about cofactors, including other factors that may increase or decrease a woman's likelihood of having the infection transmitted to her fetus. we will learn about the relationship with microcephaly from studies we are doing with partners in brazil, colombia and other places. we will develop better diagnostics. currently, we can diagnose the active zika infection. we can find it in their blood. if it is a couple weeks or couple months later, figuring out if they had zika is very complex. cdc scientists have worked for years to develop tests for that. we have a test but it is one that can have false positives for prior infections

babies with microcephaly have an unusually small head and developmental delays. "we never expected to have an infant like this," she said, "but we will care for him the same way." today the parents came to the oswaldo cruz hospital where doctors have seen about 300 infants with microcephaly since september. an average of nine cases a year. dr. angela rocha heads up the effort here to understand and manage the crisis. in her four decades as a pediatric infectious diseases expert, she has never seen anything like it. "this is different," she said. "it's a generation of babies with disabilities, which is a huge social, economic and public health problem." tell me what it's like to have a conversation with a mother and tell her that her baby has microcephaly. "it's a situation with a lot of stress, panic, worry and insecurity," she told me. that's because these parents and even health experts here are trying to figure out what services these infants will need. today the president of brazil gave public health officials the right to enter any home or business to try to

one family's son has been dealing with microcephaly for how they overcame what doctors called a death sentence. >> i love you. i love you. >> reporter: when you are born, you can't choose your parents. >> he said, your son's not going to live more than two weeks. >> reporter: 40 years later, it's clear this is the best choice for their son anthony. >> he goes, you know, i'm sorry but you should probably put your son in an institution. he can't see, can't talk, can't walk. i said, are you crazy? that's my son, i'm taking him home. >> reporter: with that devotion he thrived. >> my philosophy has always been one day at a time. >> reporter: the couple from maryland with two other children stroll anthony on the beach. he goes everywhere with them. born with microcephaly, his head is small and brain underdeveloped. me back then, i may have contracted a virus within the first three months of pregnancy. >> reporter: now the spread of the zika virus is conjuring interest as cases pop up around the world. >> never heard of it before, until now. and it's the same type of thing. >> reporter: they