Dilma Roussef calls on Brazil society to unite against Zika virus

BRAZIL - President

BRAZIL – President Dilma Rousseff has called on the whole of Brazilian society to help combat the spread of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects. Ms Rousseff said national mobilization was needed to eliminate the mosquitoes that spread the virus, and urged community groups and unions to help. Zika is thought to cause a form of infant brain damage, microcephaly. Three to four million people could be infected with Zika in the Americas this year, experts have warned. Ms Rousseff rejected comments made by her health minister earlier this week, who said Brazil was badly losing the fight against the virus. But Brazil is the country worst affected by the Zika outbreak, with 270 cases of microcephaly confirmed by the health ministry and 3,448 being investigated. (BBC)…[+]