Brazil Officials Can Access Any Buildings To Fight Mosquito

Brazil's president has signed a measure allowing health officials access to any building to eradicate breeding grounds for a mosquito spreading the Zika virus.

The measure signed by President Dilma Rousseff was published Monday. It allows health officials access to all homes, public and private buildings— even if the property's owner cannot be located.

Officials can also request backup from police to raid any building suspected of being a mosquito breeding ground.

Brazil has sent about 220,000 troops to battle the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

The Zika virus has been linked with a sharp increase in reported cases of microcephaly. The birth defect causes babies to be born with unusually small heads and can lead to lasting developmental problems.