An infant with the birth defect microcephaly died shortly after birth, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Tuesday.
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The mother had become infected with Zika while traveling in Latin America, and gave birth to the baby in Harris County near Houston, according to the state health department.
Health officials say there have been no reported cases of Zika virus disease transmitted by mosquitoes in Texas. “We are devastated to report our first case of Zika-associated death and our hearts go out to the family”, stated Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Executive Director of HCPH. There have been 17 cases of locally-acquired Zika in southern Florida, where health officials have been battling an outbreak. According to the agency, 15 infants have been born in the U.S. with birth defects with laboratory evidence of possible Zika infection.
The CDC said as of July 28, 479 women in the United States had been diagnosed with Zika while pregnant.
However, the outlet reports the mother didn’t know she was infected until after the baby was born a few weeks ago. The Department of Health has begun door-to-door outreach and sampling in the area and mosquito abatement and reduction activities are also taking place.
Texas confirmed its first Zika-related death Monday.
Women who are between the ages of 10 and 45 or pregnant are eligible for the free repellent. Federal officials last week warned pregnant women to avoid the Miami neighborhood and a 1-square-mile area around it.
With concerns about the effects of the Zika virus rising, there’s also been a rise in a change in most American’s opinion.
It is one of only a handful of deaths caused by the Zika virus reported on the US mainland.
The cost of caring for a baby born with Microcephaly may play a part in the number of people who think a late-term abortion is o.k.
Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon.
Sixteen people in neighboring Broward and Miami-Dade counties have been confirmed infected by a mosquito.
The symptoms of Zika are similar to those of dengue and chikungunya, diseases spread through the same mosquitoes that transmit Zika.
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The Zika virus has certainly heated up the argument between Democrats and Republicans on the best way to battle the Zika epidemic.
