Brazil deploys more than 200,000 troops to battle Zika mosquitoes
SAO PAULO — More than 200,000 army, navy and air force troops are fanning out across Brazil to show people how to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, which many health officials believe is linked to severe birth defects.
In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The mosquito behind the Zika virus seems to operate like a heat-driven missile of disease. Photo: AP
SAO PAULO — More than 200,000 army, navy and air force troops are fanning out across Brazil to show people how to eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, which many health officials believe is linked to severe birth defects.
The nationwide offensive is part of President Dilma Rousseff’s declared war on the virus that has quickly spread across the Americas.
The government says 220,000 members of the armed forces accompanied by community health agents and mosquito control teams are taking part in today’s (Feb 13) effort to educate the population on how to eliminate mosquito breeding areas in and around their homes.
The government says troops will visit 3 million homes to hand out explanatory pamphlets. AP
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