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Brazilian officials are warning would-be parents against getting pregnant in the wake of a widespread disease mosquitoes are carrying around the country.

The virus, called Zika, is known to cause newborn microcephaly which results in brain damage, according to CNN.

“It’s a very personal decision, but at this moment of uncertainty, if families can put off their pregnancy plans, that’s what we’re recommending,” Angela Rocha, the pediatric infectologist at Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in Brazil’s hardest-hit state, told CNN.

2,400 cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil–a huge contrast to the 140 reported cases last year. At least 29 infant deaths have been linked to the virus.

The virus was discovered in the 1940s in Uganda and was possibly carried to Brazil during the 2014 World Cup. The difficulty of detecting the virus is that there aren’t outward symptoms.

With the 2016 Olympics just around the corner, getting the virus under control is the country’s number one priority. The have already visited 9 million homes to eradicate pools that may be breeding grounds for the disease.

It’s always shocking when public officials have to get involved in family planning, but when it comes to the health of the next generation, this seems like a fair call.

Do you beauties know anyone in the country who has been affected by Zika? Will this change your travel plans?

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Brazilian Health Officials Warn Women Not To Get Pregnant Due To Virus  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com