Panama finds first case of microcephaly tied to Zika

This Feb. 12, 2016 photo shows two-week-old Sophia, born with microcephaly, during a physical therapy session at the Pedro I hospital in Campina Grande, Brazil. While some Brazilian health experts believe the outbreak of the Zika virus is linked to the surge in rare birth defects like microcephaly, this city-run hospital is a case in point of government neglect. For example, the mayor’s request for $1.5 million to the Health Ministry to buy an MRI scanner has so far gone unmet. As part of across-the-board budget cuts in February, the Health Ministry was down about $650 million of planned spending. AP

PANAMA CITY — Doctors in Panama have identified a baby born with a rare brain disorder thought to be linked to Zika, the first such case outside Brazil.

The Gorgas Memorial Institute said they found traces of the virus in the baby’s umbilical cord. The baby was born Thursday with a shrunken head, a condition known as microcephaly, and another cranial deformation called encephalocele. It died four hours later.

Like the vast majority of people infected with Zika, the child’s mother never reported symptoms during pregnancy.

READ: Higher Zika alert for PH seen

A spike in microcephaly in Brazil has led doctors to investigate links between the birth defects and Zika. But despite the mosquito-borne virus’ fast spread throughout Latin America until now there have been no cases outside Brazil of infants born with microcephaly who’ve tested positive for Zika.

READ: In fight against Zika, Brazil battles neglect, cash crunch