Baby Born in Spain With Zika-Related Microcephaly is the First Known Case in Europe

A woman in Spain infected with the Zika virus gave birth to a baby diagnosed with the brain disease microcephaly, her hospital announced Monday. This is believed to be the first case of the Zika-linked birth condition seen in Europe.

The parents were informed that microcephaly had been detected in the foetus back in May but had decided against terminating the pregnancy, Agence-France Presse reports.

The identity of the mother and exact location she contracted the virus during a trip abroad has not been disclosed by doctors, but a hospital source told AFP that she was infected in Latin America, where the Zika outbreak is widespread.

The newborn, whose gender has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, is under constant care at Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona. Felix Castillo, neonatal chief at the hospital, said the baby’s vital signs were “normal and stable.” Tests confirmed that the circumference of the baby’s head was “smaller than normal and that it has microcephaly.”

There have been a total of 190 known Zika infections in Spain to date, according to the BBC. Of those, 189 were contracted abroad and one case was sexually transmitted.

[AFP]