Brazil has declared an end to its public health emergency for the Zika virus on, 18 months after a surge in cases drew headlines around the world.
The mosquito-borne virus wasn’t considered a major health threat until the 2015 outbreak revealed that Zika can lead to severe birth defects. One of those defects, microcephaly, causes babies to be born with skulls much smaller than expected.
Many would-be travelers canceled their trips to Zika-infected places. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others recommended that women who were pregnant shouldn’t travel to affected areas.
In response to the outbreak, Brazil launched a mosquito- eradication campaign.
The World Health Organization lifted its own international emergency in November 2016, even while saying the virus remained a threat.