One-sixth of Brazil's microcephaly cases linked to Zika

Microcephaly cases in Brazil have increased to 1,271, and almost one-sixth are linked to the Zika virus.

Brazilian health ministry on Wednesday said between October 22 and April 30 out of 1,271 microcephaly cases 203 tested positive for the Zika virus.

The numbers were expected to further rise as the investigation was still ongoing, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the period, 267 babies died suspectedly from microcephaly or other abnormalities with the central nervous system during pregnancy or after labour.

The Zika virus, like dengue fever and chikungunya, is spread by the "Aedes aegypti" mosquito which is common in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Brazil, one of the worst affected countries, registered the largest number of microphaly in newborns, supposedly related to the virus.

The Brazilian government declared a state of health emergency in November 2015.

World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a health emergency of international concern on February 1, 2016, due to the rapid spread of Zika.

--IANS

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