Scientists to Investigate a Rare Birth Defect in Washington State Babies
Twenty-six babies in three rural counties of Washington State were born with a rare birth defect, where a part of the brain and skull are missing. Known as anencephaly, the defect occurs in early pregnancy when a fetal neural tube does not close.
The number of anencephaly cases in these areas is four times the national average, and no cause has been identified as yet. Common risk factors for fetal neural tube disorders include obesity in the mother. Spina bifida is another disease caused by neural tube disorders, however, officials state that there is no increase in spina bifida cases.
Health officials are planning to conduct in-depth interviews with all the mothers, and also check if pesticides and lack of folic acid could be causing the birth defect. More….
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