Women in Brazil Warned to Not Have Babies Because of Zika Epidemic | Guardian Liberty Voice

25.12.15

Women in Brazil Warned to Not Have Babies Because of Zika Epidemic| Guardian Liberty Voice: Public health experts think there is a strong possibility that the Zika virus outbreak led to an explosion of microcephaly cases. Microcephaly is normally a rare condition in which babies’ brains do not grow properly and they are born with shrunken skulls. Experts point out that microcephaly has not been linked to previous outbreaks of the virus before, but no outbreak has been this widespread (currently affecting 19 of Brazil’s 26 states).

On Tuesday, Dec. 22, Brazilian health officials reported that as of Dec. 19, suspected Zika-related microcephaly cases appeared around the same time as the epidemic and 2,782 brain-damaged babies were born. In 2014, there were only 147 microcephaly cases all year. Most of the birth mothers acknowledged having Zika-like symptoms during the early stages of their pregnancy. This led to the government to suggest that families put off pregnancy plans.