More than 5,000 pregnant Colombian women are
infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, the country's national health
institute said on Saturday, as the disease continues its rapid spread across
the Americas.
Cases of the virus total 31,555, the institute said
in a epidemiology bulletin, among them 5,013 pregnant women.
Zika, which has spread to more than 30 countries,
has been linked to birth defect microcephaly and to neurological disease
Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Total reported Zika cases increased by 23 percent
over last week's figures, while the number of pregnant women with the virus was
up 57.8 percent.
Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether
the virus actually causes microcephaly. Brazil is investigating the potential
link between Zika infections and more than 4,300 suspected cases of the birth
defect, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can result in
developmental problems.
Researchers have confirmed more than 460 of these
cases as microcephaly and identified evidence of Zika infection in 41 of these
cases, but have not proven the virus can cause microcephaly.
There are so far no recorded cases of Zika-linked
microcephaly in Colombia, the government has said. Officials are still
examining figures from countries such as Brazil, but say Colombia can expect
between 500 and 600 cases this year.
There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which
causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people
infected have no symptoms.
The institute said 29.4 percent of pregnant women
with Zika live in Norte de Santander province, along the eastern border with
Venezuela.
Colombia's Caribbean region, which includes popular
tourist destinations Cartagena and Santa Marta, had more than 12,488 cases of
the virus, the bulletin showed.
The government has said pregnant women with Zika are
eligible to access much-restricted abortion services. Many women struggle to
find abortion providers even when they meet strict legal requirements and
illegal abortions are widespread.
One Bogota abortion clinic said several women with
Zika had come for consultations, but would not confirm if procedures took
place. Local media reported what they said was the first abortion in the
country because of Zika last week.
Colombian authorities have urged women to delay
pregnancy for six to eight months.
The World Health Organization estimates Zika could
eventually affect as many as 4 million people. Colombia expects up to 600,000
cases this year.
The health minister has said he believes three
deaths are connected with Zika.
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