Zika Virus Alert: 1,271 Cases of Microcephaly and 57 Deaths

Because Zika virus is primarily spread by mosquitoes, CDC recommends that travelers to Brazil protect themselves from mosquito bites

More, authorities’ advice to pregnant women is to consider avoiding travel to areas where Zika outbreaks are currently reported.

A total of 1,271 cases of infants with microcephaly and 57 deaths of infants due to this malformation were confirmed in Brazil from the beginning of the epidemic virus Zika in October 2015, declared this Wednesday the Brazilian Ministry of Health, quoted by AFP.

According to the latest official press released published on April 30, the authorities registered a total of 3,580 suspected cases of Zika virus malformation since the beginning of this alert in autumn. They also refuted this diagnosis in other 2.492 cases.

In addition to the 57 cases of confirmed microcephaly deaths, insufficient development of the skull and brain of fetuses, the ministry has identified 178 cases of children of whose dead is suspected to be the microcephaly.

According to the Health Ministry in Brazil, most mothers who gave birth to children with microcephaly were infected with Zika, even if it was not possible to confirm that they were sick.

In early February, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that a possible link between Zika and the explosion of cases of congenital malformations should be studied. More, WHO declared the outbreak is a public health emergency of international level.