Zika Virus and Reproductive Rights

Recently, the World Health Organization declared Zika virus a global emergency. Most cases of the mosquito-borne virus have occurred in Central and South America. Zika virus is believed to be linked to microcephaly in pregnant women, a condition where babies are born with small heads and often have neurological disorders. A group of Argentinian doctors believe that increased microcephaly in Brazil is not from Zika virus, but from a Larvicide manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical. Recently, the government of El Salvador issued a recommendation that women not become pregnant until 2018 to control the increase of microcephaly. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador and access to birth control is extremely limited. We discuss the implications with Suyapa Portillo, assistant professor of Chicana studies at Pitzer College.