Texas Infant Dies in State's First Zika-Related Death

HARRIS COUNTY, TX — An infant in Harris County who died recently had microcephaly related to the Zika virus, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a news release.

The baby is the first Zika-related death reported in the state. The mother of the child was in Latin America at the time of her pregnancy when she was infected with the virus. Test results confirmed the baby's condition and link to Zika.

The mother and the baby are classified as travel-related cases, and there is no additional associated risk in the state.

“Zika’s impact on unborn babies can be tragic, and our hearts are with this family,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner, said in a statement. “Our central mission from the beginning has been to do everything we can to protect unborn babies from the devastating effects of Zika.”

Texas reported the state's first case of microcephaly linked to Zika last month, which was also an infant in Harris County. All 99 cases of Zika in Texas are travel-related cases and there have been no cases of the virus being transmitted by mosquitoes in Texas, but the state remains on alert for local transmission.

The CDC could not answer an inquiry sent by Patch about whether the Zika-related death of the infant is the first in the country. According to the agency, 15 infants have been born in the US with birth defects with laboratory evidence of possible Zika infection.

As of July 28, the agency said it does not have any deaths attributable to Zika but did report six pregnancy losses due to birth defects with laboratory evidence of possible Zika infection. The CDC deferred questions related to the death in Texas to the state's health agency.

Florida is the first state in the country to report non-travel related cases of the virus. According to the state, active transmission of the virus in Florida is only taking place in a one-square mile area of Miami.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that is characterized by a fever, rash and joint pain. While the illness typically resolves within a week, some severe cases may require hospitalization.

The CDC has confirmed that the Zika virus is responsible for causing severe defects in unborn children, including microcephaly, which leaves babies with abnormally small heads and often with brains that do not develop properly.

Until late July, the 1,400 or so cases identified in the U.S. had all been contracted while people were traveling out of the country or through sexual transmission. The CDC has confirmed a number of sexually transmitted Zika virus cases in the country. The 15th case, reported in New York earlier this month, was the first in which a woman transmitted the disease to a man. New York, like Florida, has also had a baby born with a Zika virus-related defect.

Aside from mosquitoes, Zika can be spread through sexual contact in some cases, the CDC notes. The CDC recommends women who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant postpone travel to areas where there is widespread Zika infection.

Congress has failed to pass a bill that would provide funding to fight the mosquito-borne virus. The legislations was stalled just before members of Congress left for a seven-week recess. Hillary Clinton is expected to call on Congress Tuesday to return to Washington and pass the measure.

With additional reporting and writing by Sherri Lonon.

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