3100 pregnant Colombian women 'have Zika'

More than 3100 pregnant women in Colombia have got Zika, the virus blamed in Brazil for causing thousands of babies to be born with birth defects.

Daniele da Silva, who is seven months pregnant

More than 3100 pregnant Colombian women are infected with the Zika virus, President Santos says. (AAP)

More than 3100 pregnant Colombian women are infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, President Juan Manuel Santos says, as the disease continues its rapid spread across the Americas.

The virus has been linked to the devastating birth defect microcephaly, which prevents fetus' brains from developing properly. There is no vaccine or treatment.

There are so far no recorded cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Colombia, Santos said on Saturday.

There are 25,645 people infected with the disease in Colombia, Santos said during a TV broadcast with health officials, among them 3177 pregnant women.


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Source: AAP


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