Lack of proper sanitation in Brazil fuels Zika outbreak

The Brazilian government yesterday announced that the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly have risen to 641 with the number of suspected cases standing at 4,222 .

Speaking from Recife where the suspected link between the Zika virus and microcephaly was first identified, Joao Helder Diniz, National Director of World Vision Brazil said:  “It is the poorest communities in Brazil who are bearing the brunt of this disease outbreak.

“Half of the population of Brazil has poor sanitation. This provides ideal environments for the Zika-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitos to breed."

“The most vulnerable people are living on steep hillsides on the outskirts of Recife where there is limited access to clean water, sewage treatment and household refuse is not collected regularly, which provides further habitats for the mosquitos.

GALLERY: Working in communities to fight the spread of Zika.

World Vision is distributing mosquito nets and repellent in communities across Brazil and other parts of Latin America that have been affected by the virus. Partnering with Community-based Organizations (CBOs) that have been built up over many years, World Vision is also helping communities to organize cleaning brigades to limit areas where mosquitoes can breed.

Please contact Maria Helena to arrange interviews:

helena_monteiro@wvi.org

+55 81 99796-2728