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kpete

(71,996 posts) Sat Feb 13, 2016, 11:04 AM Feb 2016

Zika Virus: Malformations Linked To Pyriproxyfen-A Pesticide Used To Arrest Development Of Mosquitos

Argentine and Brazilian doctors suspect mosquito insecticide as cause of microcephaly
Claire Robinson / GMWatch

10th February 2016

With the proposed connection between the Zika virus and Brazil's outbreak of microcephaly in new born babies looking increasingly tenuous, Latin American doctors are proposing another possible cause: Pyriproxyfen, a pesticide used in Brazil since 2014 to arrest the development of mosquito larvae in drinking water tanks. Might the 'cure' in fact be the poison?

Malformations detected in thousands of children from pregnant women living in areas where the Brazilian state added Pyriproxyfen to drinking water are not a coincidence, even though the Ministry of Health places direct blame on the Zika virus.

The World Health Organization view that the microcephaly outbreak in Brazil's impoverished northeast is caused by the Zika virus has, so far, received few challenges.

Brazil's Health Minister, Marcelo Castro, has gone so far as to say that he has "100% certainty" that there is a link between Zika and microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with small heads.

much more IMPORTANT:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2987137/argentine_and_brazilian_doctors_suspect_mosquito_insecticide_as_cause_of_microcephaly.html

6 replies

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Zika Virus: Malformations Linked To Pyriproxyfen-A Pesticide Used To Arrest Development Of Mosquitos (Original Post) kpete Feb 2016 OP

This could be why there are no WhiteTara Feb 2016 #1

This would be good news if it is true. TexasMommaWithAHat Feb 2016 #2

Very interesting! K&R 2naSalit Feb 2016 #3

Microcephaly is a documented side effect of pesticides womanofthehills Feb 2016 #4

Pesticides in drinking water TexasBushwhacker Feb 2016 #5

This makes sense. blue neen Feb 2016 #6

WhiteTara

(29,718 posts)

1. This could be why there are no

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 11:09 AM

Feb 2016

cases of microcephaly in Colombia while they have 3000 pregnant women.

TexasMommaWithAHat

(3,212 posts)

2. This would be good news if it is true.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 11:09 AM

Feb 2016

I hope the WHO can get to the bottom of this quickly.

2naSalit

(86,646 posts)

3. Very interesting! K&R

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 11:25 AM

Feb 2016

womanofthehills

(8,718 posts)

4. Microcephaly is a documented side effect of pesticides

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 12:08 PM

Feb 2016

especially for agricultural field workers . Putting pesticides in drinking water???? Here is an article from Scientific American saying what it would take to prove the virus is connected. Even the World Health Organization says there is no definite proof yet.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-would-it-take-to-prove-the-zika-microcephaly-link1/

"Zika virus has been grabbing headlines because of its links to an alarming birth defect called microcephaly. The data to provide evidence linking the relatively mild mosquito-borne disease and babies born with small heads and potential brain damage, however, are not yet conclusive. World Health Organization and U.S. government officials today discussed this data gap today in a series of public comments and press briefings."