Woman in New Jersey With Zika Virus Gives Birth to Baby With Birth Defects, Including Microcephaly

Woman in New Jersey With Zika Virus Gives Birth to Baby With Birth Defects, Including Microcephaly
David Henrique Ferreira, nine-months-old, who was born with microcephaly, is carried by his mother Mylene as they head for the grocery store on May 29, 2016 in Recife, Brazil. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Updated:

A woman in New Jersey with the Zika virus gave birth on May 31 to a baby girl with microcephaly, one of the doctors said. 

The birth defects appear to be caused by Zika.

The woman, whose identity has not been released but was said to be a 31-year-old from Honduras, delivered the baby through a cesarean section at Hackensack University Medical Center, said Dr. Abdulla Al-Kahn, the hospital’s director of maternal-fetal medicine and surgery.

The woman was diagnosed with the virus in Honduras after labs results were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation of the illness. She then came to New Jersey, where she has family, to seek further treatment, said Al-Kahn.

The mother had normal ultrasounds early in her pregnancy, but another ultrasound last week showed birth defects, including microcephaly.

Microcephaly is a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than usual because the brain doesn’t develop properly.

David Henrique Ferreira (L), 5 months, who was born with microcephaly, rests during an examination by Dr. Elane Ivo on Feb. 1, 2016, in Recife, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
David Henrique Ferreira (L), 5 months, who was born with microcephaly, rests during an examination by Dr. Elane Ivo on Feb. 1, 2016, in Recife, Brazil. Mario Tama/Getty Images