Colombia: More than 5,000 pregnant women infected with Zika virus

As efforts continue to try and stem the spread of Zika in the Americas, Colombia says more than 5,000 pregnant women are infected with the mosquito-borne virus. That is around 1 in 6 of all reported cases in the country. Some are linking Zika to the birth defect microcephaly and also to a rare nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre. Juan Manuel Santos, Colombian President, confirmed there were cases of that disorder, but stressed that a link was yet to be scientifically proven. In Brazil, with the Olympics looming, the president says Rio de Janeiro will be a priority when it comes to efforts to eliminate Zika. A public information campaign, involving the military, has already started. “The government is going to do its part, together with mayors, governors, public health officials and the armed forces. But none of these actions will go anywhere unless the population is with us, fighting in the spirit of ‘Zika Zero,’” said Dilma Rousseff, Brazilian President. “For our children to be healthy, the Zika mosquito cannot be born.” There are mounting concerns among health officials preparing for the Olympics. The US Olympic Committee has said that athletes and staff worried about their health should think about not going.