The New York City Health Department on Friday confirmed the first baby delivered with Zika-related microcephaly at a hospital in New York City. Erin Billups filed the following report.
City health officials have long feared this day would come: a baby born in New York with ZIka-related microcephaly.
"We are very saddened by this news. However, we are not surprised given the number of travel-related cases we've been seeing here in New York City among women who are pregnant," said Dr. Herminia Palacio, the deputy mayor of health and human services.
More than 1,500 children worldwide have been born microcephaly because of the Zika virus, mostly in Latin America, the epicenter of the outbreak.
In the spring, the city launched a PR campaign about the risks to women who travel to the Zika zone.
Still, the number of pregnant women in the city who have tested positive for the virus has climbed to 41.
Officials hope that news that a child has been born with Zika-related microcephaly will finally hit home.
"I'm hopeful that will make more real to people the risks that they face if they're pregnant and exposed to Zika," said Dr. Mary Bassett, the city's health commissioner.
Microcephaly is a condition marked by an abnormally small head and impaired brain development. Infections caused by Zika usually are especially severe.
"There are other birth defects that have been ascribed with Zika. They can have problems with their vision, they can have problems with their hearing. And we don't know all the potential problems there may be," Bassett said.
The mosquito species that carries Zika does not live in the city. The mother of the microcephaly baby disclosed Friday likely was infected while traveling. Both the mother and her child will continue to be monitored.
As the number of those being tested for the Zika virus continues to rise, officials say they fully expect to see more cases of microcephaly.
The Health Department is launching a second public awareness campaign, again urging women who are pregnant or who are looking to have children not to travel to Zika-affected areas. But this time, the campaign will have a more explicit message about the risks.