Zika alert troops visit 3 million homes to show them how to kill infection-carrying mosquitoes

A total of 220,000 troops began visiting three million homes across Brazil yesterday to warn the public of the threat from the Zika virus .

They handed out leaflets detailing how to eliminate the mosquito that spreads the infection – now sweeping across the Americas.

Many health officials believe the virus is linked to under-developed brains in new-born babies.

The nationwide offensive is part of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff’s declared war on the virus that has quickly spread across the Americas.
The government said 220,000 members of the armed forces accompanied by community health officials and mosquito control teams are showing people how to eliminate the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, which many health officials believe is linked to severe birth defects.

The government said troops will visit three million homes to hand out information pamphlets on how to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding areas.

Brazil is investigating the connection with more than 4,300 suspected cases of microcephaly – abnormally small heads.

Neighbouring Colombia revealed 5,013 pregnant women are among 31,555 cases of infection.