Baby With Zika Virus Birth Defects Delivered At North Jersey Hospital Tuesday

A baby born with low-birth weight and severe microcephaly — birth defects caused by the Zika virus — was delivered at Hackensack University Medical Center Tuesday, the hospital confirmed.

Nancy A. Radwin, director of communications and public relations at the hospital, confirmed that the baby was born at the Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital. The defect was a result of the mother contracting the Zika virus internationally.

The mother is visiting the United States, Radwin said. She is receiving "exceptional care during this difficult time and we appreciate everyone respecting the mother's privacy," Radwin said.

The baby's 31-year-old mother from Honduras contracted the virus after being bitten by a mosquito early in her pregnancy, according to a report by The Record.

Dr. Manny Alvarez, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the hospital also said the baby was born in visual and intestinal issues and low birth weight, the report said.

The woman arrived from Honduras more than a month ago and arrived at the hospital Friday; she was 35 weeks pregnant when she delivered Tuesday, Alvarez said in the report.

Mansi Das, a spokesperson from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, said the agency does not comment on individual cases.

The CDC has issued a travel alert for Honduras, a country in Central America where officials have determined that mosquitoes have transmitting the Zika virus to humans. The virus can also be spread through sexual contact, the CDC has said.

There have been 16 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in New Jersey, including seven in Bergen County, the state Department of Health confirmed last week. The victims all contracted the disease while traveling abroad.