Skip to main content
Tags: zika | texas | scientists | vaccine

Brazil Partners With Texas Scientists to Develop Zika Vaccine

Brazil Partners With Texas Scientists to Develop Zika Vaccine

Thursday, 11 February 2016 09:52 AM EST

Brazilian scientists are joining forces with U.S. colleagues at the University of Texas to develop a vaccine against Zika as part of a government push to stop a growing epidemic of the virus that threatens to infect millions across Latin America.

It could take one year to develop and two more years to test the vaccine, Brazil’s Health Minister Marcelo Castro told reporters in Brasilia. The government will fund research by scientists in Brazil and at the University of Texas Medical Branch with $1.9 million over five years, the health ministry said in a statement.

“We know it takes time, but there’s great optimism that we’ll develop a vaccine more quickly than expected,” Castro said.

Brazilian authorities are growing increasingly concerned about Zika, as outbreaks of the virus spread throughout the country and beyond its borders to other Latin American nations. The mosquito-borne disease is linked to microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and potential developmental problems.

The government will work with other international researchers on technologies to control the spread of the virus, including the use of genetically-modified mosquitoes, he added.

There are currently 4,783 suspected and 404 confirmed cases of microcephaly in Brazil, according to health ministry data.

The Brazilian government is urging people to clean out areas with water where the insects can breed and to double up on bug repellent.

© Copyright 2025 Bloomberg News. All rights reserved.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.

Newsfront
Brazilian scientists are joining forces with U.S. colleagues at the University of Texas to develop a vaccine against Zika as part of a government push to stop a growing epidemic of the virus that threatens to infect millions across Latin America.It could take one year to...
zika, texas, scientists, vaccine
231
2016-52-11
Thursday, 11 February 2016 09:52 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© 2025 Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved