Zika virus spreading in Latin America

The Zika virus has spread rapidly across Latin America, transforming from a little-known, mild ailment to an international public health concern. The illness is transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito and until recently was believed to only cause mild symptoms. There is now evidence linking Zika to a spike in cases of pregnant women giving birth to babies with microcephaly, a birth defect in which a baby is born with a smaller than normal head, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. The CDC expects the virus to continue to spread and has urged pregnant women to avoid the two dozen countries where the virus is present so far and to take extra precaution to avoid mosquito bites.

By Emily Z. Fortier
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Gleyse Kelly da Silva, 27, holds her daughter Maria Giovanna, who was born with microcephaly, outside their house in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 27. Brazilian officials still say they believe there is a sharp increase in cases of microcephaly and strongly suspect the Zika virus, which first appeared in the country last year, is to blame.
(Felipe Dana/Associated Press)