MoreBrazilian Health Officials Found Zika Virus in Body FluidsInternational Donors Raise Over $10 Billion for Syrians (BRASILIA) — Brazil’s health minister said Friday that authorities were “absolutely sure” that the Zika virus is connected to devastating birth defects and rejected criticism that the government was slow to investigate the surge of cases that set off international alarms. Marcelo Castro made the remarks during an interview with The Associated Press in Brazil’s capital.