BRASILIA, Brazil, Jumada I 03, 1437, February 12, 2016, SPA -- 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, according to AP. Marcelo Castro made the remarks during an interview with The Associated Press in Brazil's capital. He spoke a day before tens of thousands of soldiers and health inspectors were to take to the streets in an unprecedented drive to encourage residents to be vigilant for mosquito breeding sites. The goal: visit 3 million homes in more than 350 cities. --SPA 23:52 LOCAL TIME 20:52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w