Zika brain damage may go undetected in pregnancy

Zika virus may cause significant damage to the fetal brain even when the baby’s head size is normal, according to a primate study. The damage can be difficult to detect even with sophisticated brain scans. It may also occur from infections during childhood and adolescence. Hard hit are brain regions that generate new brain cells. Fetal brain structures that may be injured include those where neural stem cells play a role in learning and memory.