Brazil Warns Against Pregnancy Due to Spreading Virus

Brazilian health officials have warned women to avoid pregnancy until more is known about the Zika virus. Researchers suggest the virus has led to “a surge in newborn microcephaly, a neurological disorder that can result in incomplete brain development,” reports Shasta Darlington for CNN. Zika symptoms include a mild fever, rash, aching joints and headaches. “More than 2,400 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported this year in 20 Brazilian states, compared with 147 cases last year.” The virus was discovered in Africa during the 1940s and has spread to other nations, including tourist destinations. The 2014 World Cup games may have introduced the virus to Brazil. The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which flourishes in tropical and sub-tropical climates. – YaleGlobal