To prevent the development of the mosquito Aedes Aegypti, responsible for diseases such as Dengue, Zika or Chikungunya, the Ministry of Health has used a pesticide called Pyriproxyfen in the water reservoirs of the most affected regions, such as the Northeast.
This pesticide is capable of affecting the development of mosquito larvae, preventing them from surviving before they reach their adult form.
Since the Zika virus has been manifesting more intensely since 2007, not only in Brazil and Colombia, for example, and has never been proven to be related to the appearance of malformations in babies, this pesticide is being pointed out as another possible cause of the increase of cases of microcephaly in infants in Northeast Brazil.
How this pesticide can affect baby's development
Although they are not the same, the development of a human fetus includes processes similar to the development of Aedes Aegypti mosquito larvae, and since Pyriproxyfen is capable of affecting the development of the larva, preventing its survival, may also be causing changes in the larvae. normal process of development of babies during gestation, causing malformations including microcephaly.
In addition, in all other sites where several cases of Zika virus have appeared, cases of microcephaly have not been so frequently found in the infants of mothers infected with the virus.
Why Pyriproxyfen is used in Brazil
Pyriproxyfen began to be used in Brazil from 2014, when the previous pesticide, known as Temephos, no longer has an effect on mosquito larvae.
This pesticide was used in northeastern Brazil to eradicate the mosquito, under the justification that the lack of sanitation conditions would facilitate the development of the mosquito, thus increasing the risk of diseases transmitted by its bite like dengue, zika or chikunguya.
Understand in a simple way what microcephaly is and how to take care of a drink with this problem by watching the video below.
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