A Guatemalan baby has been born with microcephaly linked to the Zika virus, officials say. The child is believed to be the first born with a Zika-linked defect in the Central American country. The infection is suspected of causing babies to be born with underdeveloped brains and abnormally small heads if the mother has it during pregnancy.
Children with microcephaly face lifelong difficulties, including intellectual impairment.
It can be fatal. Brazil has been the centre of the current outbreak of the virus.
Carlos Mejia, director of the infectious diseases department at Guatemala City’s Hospital Roosevelt, said two other babies were undergoing tests to determine if their mothers had caught Zika while pregnant.
Zika is commonly transmitted through mosquitoes but can also be transmitted sexually.
The UN estimates says that 20% of women in Guatemala who are sexually active are not using contraception, despite being fertile and not wanting to get pregnant.
Abortion is illegal in Guatemala – it can only be performed to save a mother’s life.
Zika virus around the world:
• More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing transmission of Zika.
• Cases of Zika-related birth defects have been centred in Brazil, with about 1,800 instances confirmed to date.
• At least 1,955 people in the US have contracted Zika while travelling outside the country, and about 22 cases have been sexually transmitted.
• So far 25 people have contracted the virus from local mosquitoes in Florida.
• The US territory of Puerto Rico has seen nearly 6,500 locally acquired cases and 30 associated with travel.
Sources: WHO, CDC, Florida Department of Health
The author on the comeback trail at Vince’s Gym (circa 1980) with Carl Weathers (seated) and the maestro himself Vince… Read More
This weeklong celebration, running from April 8th to April 13th, 2024, aligns with libraries and information units across the island Read More
Kenny Anthony (pictured left with the Labour Party’s original leader, George Charles): For fifteen years he was Saint Lucia’s prime… Read More
We are committed to empowering St. Lucian women entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools and support to turn… Read More
Charles Flemming: Saint Lucia’s former ambassador to the UN was widely praised for his sartorial elegance, but not for his… Read More
I remember well that May morning when a receptionist at Weider buzzed my office to let me know someone downstairs… Read More
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. No personally identifiable information is stored.