San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador on Tuesday confirmed its first case of microcephaly in a baby that was linked to a Zika infection in the mother.
Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head and deformed brain.
Health Minister Violeta Menjivar said the infant was born in April to a family living in the country's central La Paz province, and the Zika connection was proved "a short while ago."
Zika, a virus typically carried by mosquitos, was first detected in the Central American country in November and 10,476 cases of infection have been recorded.
Among them, the health ministry counted 274 pregnant women suspected to have been infected with Zika. Of those, 118 gave birth to babies without microcephaly.
Menjivar noted that cases of babies with microcephaly believed caused by Zika have also occurred in countries including Brazil, Colombia, Martinique, Panama, Puerto Rico and the United States.
Abortion is illegal in El Salvador, a predominantly Christian country.
Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes an abnormally small head and deformed brain.
Health Minister Violeta Menjivar said the infant was born in April to a family living in the country's central La Paz province, and the Zika connection was proved "a short while ago."
Among them, the health ministry counted 274 pregnant women suspected to have been infected with Zika. Of those, 118 gave birth to babies without microcephaly.
Advertisement
Abortion is illegal in El Salvador, a predominantly Christian country.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Zika Strain Linked To Birth Defect Not Found in Jaipur: Health Ministry Central Team Goes To Jaipur After 8 More Test Positive For Zika Infection Myanmar Health Authorities Struggle To Prepare For Zika Outbreak Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Ceasefire Must Involve "Complete" Israeli Withdrawal From: Gaza Hamas US Delegation Led By Top Diplomat Richard Verma To Visit India Tomorrow 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Taiwan: Weather Agency Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.