Complex sentence: On 20 January 2016, scientists from the state of Paraná, Brazil, confirmed that the virus is able to penetrate the placenta during pregnancy when they detected genetic material in the placenta of a woman, who had undergone an abortion due to microcephaly.
Split into simpler sentences: On 20 January 2016, scientists from the state of Paraná, Brazil, discovered that the virus is able to penetrate the placenta during pregnancy. Remains of the virus' genetic material were found in a placenta sample of a woman who had undergone an abortion due to microcephaly.