Spain Records Its First Case Of A Baby Born With Zika Virus

The first case of a baby born with the Zika-related microcephaly birth defect has been recorded in Spain, Daily Mail reports.

According to the report, the baby’s 41-year-old unnamed mother was diagnosed with the virus in May and had decided to keep the baby. Sources say she was also diagnosed with Dengue fever when she was 13 weeks pregnant after travelling to South America. At her 20-week scan, she was reportedly told that her baby had several abnormalities in what was thought to be Europe’s first case.

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It was later confirmed by Spain’s Health Ministry that it was the country’s first case. Dozens of people in Europe have reportedly contracted Zika after spending time in affected countries, yet, not many cases of babies developing microcephaly symptoms have been recorded in the region.

Thus, pregnant women have been warned not to travel to affected areas. Cases of microcephaly in countries such as Brazil, which has declared a public health emergency over the disease, have been linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

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According to Daily Mail, the birth defect, which is marked by babies born with brain abnormalities and undersized heads, is sweeping through South and Central America and the Caribbean and is making its way north to the United States.

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