Brazil, center of the Zika outbreak that has spread to more than 30 countries, is hosting the Rio 2016 Olympics.
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Dilma Rousseff expects Brazil to have “considerable success” in killing the mosquitoes that …
At the end of January, the Colombian health minister, Alejandro Gaviria, reported roughly 20,000 Zika infections, placing the country second only to Brazil in the severity of its outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a public health emergency earlier this month, after the virus spread rapidly in the South American region.
An ongoing outbreak of Zika in Latin America began in Brazil last spring.
The country has confirmed 404 cases of Zika-linked microcephaly and 3,670 others are under study. “We are certain of one thing: We will have the Olympic Games and we’re taking action to make sure of it”, Rousseff told reporters after visiting a community in Rio de Janeiro to launch a campaign of preventive action, and where she was asked about an eventual cancellation of the sports spectacular.
“I think the evidence is building on the causal link”, she added, explaining that an ongoing trial among pregnant woman in Colombia was expected to yield new evidence soon.
More than 200,000 soldiers have been deployed across the country to warn the public about the risks of the virus, which is largely transmitted by mosquitoes.
Brazil’s health ministry issued fresh figures on Friday, reporting 4,314 suspected and confirmed cases of microcephaly, up from 4,074 cases on February 2.
He said the team would also seek to prove whether Zika definitively causes the severe neurological disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome as well as microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, in babies born to women infected with the disease.
Zika virus is primarily transmitted through a mosquito bite, and there is no indication that it can spread from person to person through casual contact.
“This is a very strong indication that the Zika cases are increasing and that the combat against the mosquito is not being efficient”, Marcos Lago, an associate professor of infectious diseases and paediatrics at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, said.
Yesterday, Colombia’s national health institute said more than 5,000 pregnant women were infected with Zika.
“We’ve gotten to the point now where we have to say Zika is guilty now until proven innocent”, Dye said. Since October, 5,079 suspected cases have been reported, according to the latest figures released Friday. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, red eyes, and rashes.
The CDC has advised pregnant women to avoid travel to areas where the virus is spreading, and for men who travel to these areas and have a pregnant partner to either use condoms or abstain from sex until their partner gives birth.
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There is no cure for Zika, although a vaccine could be available in 18 months.
