2 California babies born with Zika-related illness, officials say

[email protected] @SAbramLA on Twitter Two babies have been bo in Califoia with microcephaly, a birth defect directly related to the Zika virus, state health officials aounced Thursday.

The two women who gave birth to the infants were infected by the Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in a country where the virus is endemic, said Dr. Karen Smith, state director for the Califoia Department of Public Health.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than expected, compared to babies of the same sex and age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies with microcephaly often develop smaller brains.

Both infants were bo this year, but Smith would not release any other information on when the babies were bo or in which counties. But she said the births are a reminder to women who are pregnant to stay away from countries where there are Zika outbreaks, such as in Brazil, where the summer Olympics are underway.

“This is a sobering reminder for Califoians that Zika can cause serious harm to a developing fetus,” Smith said. “We join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in urging pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission. Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and speak with a health care provider upon retu.”

While mosquitoes that can carry the virus have been found in 12 Califoia counties, there is no evidence these mosquitoes are transmitting Zika in the state at this time, Smith added.

The aouncement comes in the same week when the CDC aounced that Califoia will receive $3.6 million over five years to follow babies with Zika-related microcephaly.

As of Friday, a total of 114u2009travel-associated Zika virus infections have been reported in Califoia since 2015, according to the state’s department of public health. Of those:

•u200924 are from Losu2009Angeles County, which reports the highest number of any jurisdiction in the state.

•u2009Orangeu2009County has nine cases, while Sanu2009Beardino County has six and Riversideu2009County has one.

•u200921 Califoia women who tested positive for Zika are pregnant.

•u2009One Sanu2009Diego woman was infected through sexual contact after her partner had traveled and retued from Colombia.

There are no local transmissions reported in Califoia so far.

The number of Zika virus cases is expected to increase among travelers this summer because of outbreaks in countries such as Mexico, Puertou2009Rico and Brazil.

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In addition, the mosquito that can transmit the virus is already present in Southeu2009Califoia. The insect is related to the Asianu2009Tiger mosquito, which is also active in the region. Both thrive in the daytime.

Like Westu2009Nile virus, Zika is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus also can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Scientists have confirmed that Zika can cause birth defects. Some symptoms include acute onset of fever, a flat red rash and joint pain. Although death is rare, one out of five people infected with Zikau2009virus can become very ill, according to the CDC. Though it is a mosquito-boe disease, the Zika virus also is found in the semen of infected men and can be transmitted to sexual partners, health officials said.