The Zika outbreak that started in northeast Brazil is now in 30 countries, causing researchers to develop vaccines while trying to confirm the connection to microcephaly. Christian ministries like World Vision and Operation Blessing have mobilized with preventative strategies in high-risk communities while ministering to mothers whose children have birth defects.
According to Operation Blessing, “In some countries, such as El Salvador, women are being urged to delay becoming pregnant for two years to avoid severe issues such as microcephaly—a condition where a child is born with incomplete brain development and an abnormally small head. This can lead to seizures, developmental delays and mental retardation.”
Pray for the families of microcephaly babies as they learn how to care and nurture their children. Also, pray for researchers and health-aid workers as they rapidly work to eradicate Zika.
The article above is a simple summary of the following news articles:
NBC: U.S., Brazilian Health Teams Hit Slums to Study Zika
BBC: Zika virus: Up to four million Zika cases predicted
NPR: Why Scientists Hope To Inject Some People With Zika Virus
Operation Blessing: Zika Outbreak Grips Latin America, Caribbean
MNN: WHO warns of spread of Zika virus, dangers to pregnant women
CNN: Disease detectives hunt Zika virus-microcephaly connection in Brazil
Fox News: Brazil to fight Zika by sterilizing mosquitoes with gamma rays
World Vision: Zika Virus: What you need to know
