New York: Vision-threatening eye abnormalities in infants in Brazil with microcephaly - a birth defect characterised by an abnormally small head -- may be associated with infection with Zika virus, says a new study.

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites and according to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention the most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).