Brazil's latest update regarding their zika virus crisis is actually really hopeful

It's nearing an end, finally!

zika virus
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It's nearing an end, finally!

Back in 2015, the world was introduced to zika virus because it became an epidemic. And after it was declared a national emergency in Brazil, it was pretty much across every single newspaper front page.

The huge worry for women around the virus (which is akin to yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue) is the links to microcephaly, a seemingly rare neurological condition where a baby's head is abnormally small and they suffer developmental issues.

The virus, which is spread via mosquito bites, didn't only affect Brazil though. There are currently still cases (although not to a national emergency level) in central America, The Pacific Islands, South America, Africa, Asia and The Caribbean.

But there is some good news this week, Brazil's Ministry for Health have announced that they are seeing a 'decrease in cases of Zika and microcephaly throughout the country' which means that the national emergency has ended.

The BBC have recorded around 95% less cases between this January and April, compared to the same time last year in 2016. And, the World Health Organisation denounced their international emergency over the virus back in November 2016 so hopefully it'll continue to decrease across all regions.

Delphine Chui