Honduras sees first newborn death from Zika-Induced Microcephaly

  21 August 2016    Read: 1246
Honduras sees first newborn death from Zika-Induced Microcephaly
Honduras has recorded its first case of a newborn death from Zika virus-induced microcephaly, the country`s Deputy Health Minister Francis Contreras said Friday.
Earlier, Honduran authorities said that the number of microcephaly-diagnosed newborns in the country had reached 14.

"He had various congenital genetic defects, including microcephaly and heart problems, it was a very serious case," Contreras said, as quoted by the La Prensa news website.

In March, the country`s first case of death from Guillain-Barre syndrome, also considered to be a consequence of the Zika virus infection, was reported.

The current Zika outbreak started in Brazil in the spring of 2015. It has since spread across Latin America, with cases having been reported in several European countries and the United States.

The virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which is common in tropical areas of the Americas. Zika poses little threat to the general population, although evidence suggests men can transmit the virus to sexual partners after long exposure and long after any symptoms disappear.

Zika does not cause serious complications in adults, but is suspected of leading to severe brain defects and cases of microcephaly in newborns.

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