Brazil to Deploy Troops to Combat Zika Virus

Brazil has announced that it will combat the spread of the Zika virus by deploying 220,000 soldiers to disseminate information on preventing infection.

As the BBC reports, the soldiers will be tasked with going door-to-door to pass out informative leaflets instructing citizens on how to avoid contracting the mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to thousands of Anencephalic babies.

Health Minister Marcelo Castro announced that the troops will be sent on their house-to-house mission on Feb. 13.

As previously reported, the Brazilian government, which will host the upcoming Summer Olympic in Rio de Janeiro, has also announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the summer games. Four months before the Olympics, officials will start inspecting the facilities for breeding grounds where mosquitoes might thrive. When the games take place, sweeps to counter the bugs will occur on a daily basis and fumigation will take place on a case-by-case basis.

The Pan American Health Organization announced that that they fully expect the Zika virus to spread across North America soon.

Castro described the mosquito, which aside from spreading Zika also transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever, as Brazil's No. 1 public enemy.

"Last year we had the highest number of dengue cases in the history of Brazil," Castro said. "We're losing badly in the battle against the mosquito."

Symptoms of Zika include mild fever, conjunctivitis and headache. The virus has already been found in 21 countries in the Caribbean, North and South America. Since October, there have been 3,893 reported cases of microcephaly in Brazil.

The Zika virus was first discovered in monkeys back in 1947 in Uganda. Until 2007, cases of the virus were considered extremely rare.

As previously reported, the World Health Organization has noted that there is still no vaccine for the virus. According to the organization, the most effective solution remains trying to reduce mosquito populations, while preventing bites by using insect repellents and barriers.