WESLACO – A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows birth defects linked to the Zika virus have increased in the U.S. where the virus spread locally, including the Rio Grande Valley.

Researchers looked at almost 1 million births in 15 U.S. states and territories in 2016. They found that three out of every 1,000 babies had a birth defect that could be associated with a Zika virus infection in the mother.

About half of those infants were bobrn with brain abnormalities or small head size.

The report specifically singles out Puerto Rico, Southern Florida and the Rio Grande Valley.

You can read the full CDC report here.