Women in Latin American countries told to 'avoid pregnancy' due to birth defects linked to virus

A baby thought to be affected by the 'Zika' virus Credit: CCTV

Women in El Salvador have been urged to avoid getting pregnant for two years to stop children from developing birth defects from a virus which has rampaged through the Americas.

The mosquito-born Zika virus is linked to rising cases of microcephaly, a neurological disorder in which infants are born with smaller craniums and brains.

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Spread by the same insect that transmits dengue and yellow fever, Zika has been spreading rapidly in Brazil and neighbouring countries.

Research is still under way but significant evidence has been found in Brazil to suggest the virus is causing the problem in newborns.

Health worker fumigates a neighbourhood in El Salvador as a measure against the 'Zika' virus Credit: Jose Cabezas/Reuters

El Salvador's deputy health minister said the government decided to make the announcement because 5,397 cases of the Zika virus had been detected in El Salvador in 2015 and the first few days of this year.

Zika virus spreading across the Americas

In Colombia, which has the second-highest Zika infection rate after Brazil, the government is also advising women to delay becoming pregnant, but only for six to eight months.

The cases of babies born with unusually small heads continue to rise in Brazil where researchers said on Wednesday they had found new evidence linking the increase to the Zika virus spreading through the Americas.

Significant evidence has been found in Brazil to suggest the Zika virus is causing the problem in newborns Credit: CCTV

The Ministry of Health said the number suspected cases of microcephaly increased to 3,893 by January 16 from 3,530 cases 10 days earlier.

The number of reported deaths of deformed babies rose to 49, ministry officials said at a news conference.

So far, health authorities have only confirmed six cases of microcephaly where the infant was infected with the mosquito-born Zika virus.

A baby thought to be affected by the 'Zika' virus Credit: CCTV

As of 18 January, three cases associated with travel to Colombia, Suriname and Guyana have been diagnosed in UK travellers according to Public Health England.

Last week, U.S. health authorities confirmed the birth of a baby with microcephaly in Hawaii to a mother who had been infected with the Zika virus while visiting Brazil last year.