First Baby In NYC With Zika-Related Birth Defects Heightens Concern Nationwide

NEW YORK, NY — The NYC Department of Health announced Friday the first case of a baby born in the city with birth defects related to exposure of Zika, heightening concern for hundreds of pregnant women in the United States known to be infected with the virus.

The baby in New York was born with microcephaly, a smaller than normal head, which often indicates severe brain damage.

“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. We are monitoring the baby’s health closely and connecting the family with the necessary services to take care of their child,” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett told a news conference. “I remind all pregnant women in New York City, and those trying to get pregnant, that they should delay travel to places where there is active Zika transmission. As we see today, the consequences for the child can be devastating.”

More than 1,400 cases of Zika virus infection had been recorded in the United States as of July 14, all connected to travel to countries experiencing outbreaks, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The true number of those infected in the United States is likely much higher given that many people carrying the virus never know it. Some develop only mild symptoms and other have no symptoms at all.

The risk can be grave, though, for pregnant women and for their unborn babies. The CDC has been tracking more than 400 pregnant women in the United States who have been identified as infected. Most of them have not yet given birth. Of the small number of those whose pregnancies have ended, the outcomes have not been encouraging.

Twelve of the 400 women have given birth to babies with microcephaly or other Zika-related defects. Six other women suffered "pregnancy loss," which could include miscarriages, stillbirths or abortions, according to the CDC. Other babies have been born with no immediate signs of birth defects.

Researchers estimate that for every 100 pregnancies involving women infected early in their pregnancy, 1 percent to 15 percent of them will have babies with severe birth defects.

While the 12 cases involving birth defects in the United States is relatively low, it is double the number recorded only a month earlier.

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and, less commonly, through sex. The CDC is continuing to advise pregnant women and women who may become pregnant to avoid areas where mosquitos are known to have transmitted the virus. They include Cape Verdes, Mexico, and many countries in the Caribbean, Central America, The Pacific Islands and South America.

As of July 15, 346 cases of Zika virus were reported in New York City, including 41 pregnant women of 2,000 women tested, according to the health department.

While there have been no confirmed cases of mosquitos in the United States infecting people with the Zika virus, health officials in Florida are investigating two instances in which the virus was contracted by people who say they had not traveled and did not have sex with an infected partner.

New York's health commissioner urged continued caution.

"It's not a simple thing to stop doing what you always do, especially when the risk seems theoretical, something that you've only seen on television," Dr. Bassett said. "But now we've had a case of a baby with microcephaly born right here in our city, so I'm hopeful that that will make more real to people the risk that they face if they are pregnant and are exposed to Zika."

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