First Confirmed Case of Zika-Related Microcephaly in El Salvador

As many countries are succumbing to the ferocious spread of Zika virus, El Salvador has confirmed its first case of microcephaly in a baby that was linked to a Zika infection in the mother.

Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head and deformed brain.

Health Minister Violeta Menjivar said the infant was born in April to a family living in the country's central La Paz province, and the Zika connection was proved "a short while ago."

‘Health Minister Violeta Menjivar has confirmed the first case of Zika-linked microcephaly in an infant born in April to a family living in the country's central La Paz province.’

Zika, a virus typically carried by mosquitoes, was first detected in the Central American country in November and 10,476 cases of infection have been recorded.

Among them, the health ministry counted 274 pregnant women suspected to have been infected with Zika. Of those, 118 gave birth to babies without microcephaly.

Menjivar noted that cases of babies with microcephaly believed caused by Zika have also occurred in countries including Brazil, Colombia, Martinique, Panama, Puerto Rico and the United States.

Abortion is illegal in El Salvador, a predominantly Christian country.

Source: AFP