Brazil confirms 1,113 cases of microcephaly

From October 2015 to April 9, 2016, 1,113 cases of microcephaly were confirmed in Brazil. Of this total, 189 malformation cases were linked to the mothers' infection with Zika virus, confirmed by laboratory testing.

Despite this, the ministry believes that most mothers who had babies with microcephaly were infected, although local health authorities are still unable to verify this link through laboratory testing.

In total, 7,015 suspected cases have been reported since the investigation was launched in October 2015, and 2,066 cases were dismissed. Other 3,836 babies are under examination.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta