Researchers in Brazil are confirming the discovery of the Zika in the brains of babies with microcephaly.  It adds to growing pile of evidence showing a link between the mosquito-transmitted virus and the birth defect.

"We have detected its presence in the brain tissue," said Lucia Noronha, a pathologist from the Brazilian Society of Pathology.  "The Zika virus caused brain damage and that reinforces evidence of a relationship between Zika and microcephaly," she added.  Dr. Noronha's team at the PUC-Parana University had earlier confirmed the presence of Zika in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women, which sounded alarms over a possible link between the virus and microcephalic babies, who are born with damaged brains and abnormally small heads..

"We received samples of brain tissue from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation," Dr. Noronha continued.  "They're the same samples that were sent to the United States, where researchers at the Centers for Disease Control came to the same conclusion: that there is Zika in the fetus' brain."

Other countries in Latin America have reported Zika, but Brazil has been hit the hardest with more than 4,000 confirmed and suspected cases of microcephaly.  Throughout the region, the outbreak of the virus has reignited demands for expanding women's reproductive rights.  Abortion is not available in most Latin American countries, and Zika tends to be concentrated in poor areas with less access to healthcare and services that parents of microcephelic babies will require.

Although countries and some pharmaceutical companies are racing to invent a Zika vaccine, none exists right now, nor is there any cure for Zika.  So far, the only way to fight it is to get rid of the standing water where the Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds.  Brazil is deplored hundreds of thousands of troops to spread out in infected areas to kill standing pools of water, and inform the public.

Jamaica has turned to its great cultural export to inform the people.  The Health Ministry created a Dancehall video called "We nuh want Zik V", urging residents to get rid of stagnant water and to use bug spray to help prevent the transmission of the virus.

"A special shoutout to pregnant ladies, protect yourselves and protect your babies," the singer toasts in the video, warning residents to use bug spray and citronella candles.