Brazil hit by Zika, a mysterious rash of babies born with small heads
More than 2,700 babies have been born in Brazil with microcephaly this year, up from fewer than 150 in 2014. Brazil's health officials say they're convinced the jump is linked to a sudden outbreak of the Zika virus that infected Pereira, though international experts caution it's far too early to be sure and note the condition can have many other causes.
ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) – Health authorities in Paraguay are reporting the country's first two cases of babies born with the microcephaly birth defect related to the Zika virus.
The virus is mainly spread by mosquitoes, but cases of sexual transmission have also occurred. Some women who contract it during their pregnancies have given birth to newborns with microcephaly, which leads to babies with abnormally small heads and improperly developed brains.
Health Ministry official Agueda Cabello said Wednesday that the two cases of birth defects linked to Zika were confirmed in a laboratory this week. Both babies are in stable condition and are part of a group of 29 babies with microcephaly. The rest are still being tested.
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