A baby with Zika-related microcephaly has been born at a New York City hospital, marking the first such delivery in the five boroughs, according to health officials.
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NBC notes that there are twelve known cases in the United States of infants born with Zika-related microcephaly, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“While not surprising, given the travel trends of our global city, this case is a strong reminder of the tragic consequences of the Zika virus”, said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett in a statement released Friday.
The NPR report added that both agencies are trying to rule out other possibilities before they conclude that the two Florida residents got Zika locally – aside from travel, these include possible transmission via sexual intercourse. “Local, state and territorial health departments are on the front lines in the fight against Zika”, said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD.
So far, scientists have said the most frequent transmission is by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a type of mosquito that is is common throughout Florida.
The CDC has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.
Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of two species mosquito not normally found in MA. In the immediate Tampa Bay area, travel associated cases have been reported in Hillsborough (7), Pinellas (7), Polk (10), Pasco (5) and Manatee (1) counties.
So far, 1,404 people in 46 USA states have contracted Zika, including 15 cases that were sexually acquired.
Now there is no vaccine for Zika, however, research is underway, health department officials said.
With the looming possibility the Zika virus will spread through the United States – with South Florida at the forefront – prevention is key.
Health officials have been warning for months that Zika’s appearance in mosquitoes in the US mainland is likely, but they don’t expect widespread outbreaks like those seen in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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The money will go toward studying the disease, improving mosquito control and participation in a registry to monitor pregnant Zika-infected women and their babies.
