Pregnancy Warning in Brazil! Officials Link Zika Virus to Thousands of Birth Defects

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Some women in Brazil may have to put off their plans to have a baby as health officials in the country have cautioned about the possibility of their newborn babies having a birth defect referred to as microcephaly. The neurological problem could be brought about by a mosquito-borne virus called Zika.

"It's a very personal decision, but at this moment of uncertainty, if families can put off their pregnancy plans, that's what we're recommending," Angela Rocha, the pediatric infectologist at Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in Brazil's hardest-hit state, told CNN.

For this year alone, there have been about 2,400 suspected cases of microcephaly reported in 20 Brazilian states and medical experts are also looking at the death of 29 infants that they believe is related to it. And, because of this outbreak, there are already more than five states in Brazil that have declared a state of emergency.

"This is an unprecedented situation, unprecedented in world scientific research," Brazil's health ministry said in a statement. According to the health officials, Zika virus was found in a baby that had died with microcephaly after an autopsy was conducted. The same virus was also discovered in the amniotic fluid of a couple of mothers whose babies also had microcephaly, according to a Washington Post report.

Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex, says Mayo Clinic. The brain could have some problem in its development during the baby's stay inside the womb, or it could also stop from growing after the child is born.

Genetic and environmental factors could come into play in the development of microcephaly among babies. According to Mayo Clinic, there is no treatment for the condition, but early intervention with supportive therapies like speech and occupational therapies could aid in the child's development.

"These are newborns who will require special attention their entire lives. It's an emotional stress that just can't be imagined," Rocha said. "Here in Pernambuco, we're talking about a generation of babies that's going to be affected."

The Brazil health officials found out about the link when they discovered that most of the affected mothers manifested some of the symptoms related to Zika during early pregnancy. These symptoms include mild fever, rash and headaches. During that time, reports of Zika virus in the country coincide with the surge in the number of microcephaly cases.