Brazil Cautions Women To Avoid Pregnancy Over Zika Virus Outbreak (discovermagazine.com)

iONiUM writes: According to an article at Discover, "Authorities in Brazil have recently issued an unusual and unprecedented announcement to women: don't get pregnant, at least not just yet. Amidst an intractable outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, public health authorities in Brazil are highly suspicious of an unusual surge of cases of microcephaly among newborn children." There were over 3,000 cases in 2015.

It's believed this virus is linked to shrinking newborns brain, and it is spreading. "Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and it was first detected in Uganda in the 1940s. After spreading through Africa and parts of Asia, it has made its way to Latin America. There is no known vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the disease caused by the virus. Since May 2015, the Brazilian government estimates that some 1.5 million people have been infected with the virus." The CDC has published an article about it, and travel warnings are now being issued for pregnant women.

Comments

Brazil has aggressive Mosquito control

[Crashmarik]

That they rolled out to combat Dengue Fever. http://www.iflscience.com/heal...

Wonder if that has just been ineffective against illnesses with a Mosquito vector or just not this particular virus.

Re: Brazil has aggressive Mosquito control

[Volanin]

I'm from Brazil. The same mosquito (Aedis Aegypti) is responsible for three diseases. Originally it was just Dengue Fever that was the problem, but recently there's been an outbreak of Chikungunya and Zika as well. These diseases have similar symptoms, but the latest one, Zika, is being deemed responsible for a huge increase of Microcephaly in newborns lately that is all over the news. There is indeed an aggressive mosquito control front and Government initiatives to inform the population, but keep in mind that it's Summer here in the Southern Hemisphere, and the higher temperatures are causing these mosquitoes to reproduce like a plague, making it much harder to solve the problem.

Re: Brazil has aggressive Mosquito control

[avandesande]

I don't think microcephaly will have much impact there....

Re: Brazil has aggressive Mosquito control

[rtb61]

The virus takes up space in the digestive system of the affected mosquito and as it does not aid the mosquito, it must logically hamper the mosquito, an identical mosquito that resist the infection will have a minor advantage. Also the genome resistance should also be dominant, so it a pairing between a resistant and non resistanct variant the resistance would be passed on.

Also in a plus for conspiracy theorists the development of the spread of the infection and it's sporadic localised spread. It would be interesting to find out whether it is the original virus in all instances or whether changes in it's makeup and affect have changed over time. Did it always result in microcephaly and brain damage in the unborn children or is that just a recent development of the current variant.

Re:Why are these Brazilians even having children?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear ignorant Coward.

Brazil is also known [by whom looks at it closely] for its beautiful mid-sized cities [where favelas are virtually unknown], where you live better than in US. Its wonderful beaches, and its growing middle class, that makes up more than 50% of the population. It is also known as middle income country that's getting rid of poverty faster than any other nation. Also, we are the ones researching the cure for the exact same diseases TFA mentions. We will win in the end, and if you think this is China's century, you'd better think again.

Now you can get you desperately ignorant words written down to a piece of paper and shove it up your ass.

Yeah, Brazilian here.

Re:And the zombie apocalypse begins!

[cayenne8]

Hmm...I haven't ever known about a virus, but over my many years, my mantra to girlfriends and hookups has ALWAYS been: "Don't get pregnant....!!

:)

I'm guessing most guys for most of their lives have been also recommending this to their women...hehehe

Not just Brazil

[Espectr0]

Now in Venezuela as well. We had chikunguya last year and now Zika as well. The aedes family of mosquitoes are extremely dangerous, now causing 4 common diseases (dengue and yellow fever as well)

Re:Cow Guy

[tnk1]

Perhaps he's just moo-ved on?

Re:It's actually a national, male conspiracy.

[Anonymous Coward]

You cracked the code. microencephaly ==> "give me a little head"