Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb 5, 2016 / 00:08 am
In the wake of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas, one woman born with microcephaly – which is suspected to be linked to Zika – has said that what's needed for those with the condition is assistance, not abortion.
Ana Carolina Cáceres, a Brazilian journalist, told the BBC's Ricardo Senra that microcephaly "is a box of surprises. You may suffer from serious problems or you may not. So I believe that those who have abortions are not giving their children a chance to succeed."
Zika, a mosquito-borne virus, has been linked to recent cases of microcephaly, a disorder characterized by an abnormally small heads, and often delayed brain development. Since October 2015 Brazil has seen more than 3,600 suspected cases, and 404 confirmed cases (compared with 150 cases throughout 2014).
While the increase in microcephaly is not certain to be linked to the Zika outbreak, it is "strongly suspected," according to the World Health Organization.