Woman with Zika virus gives birth to baby with microcephaly in New Jersey hospital

A woman diagnosed with the Zika virus gave birth to a baby with severe birth defects linked to the virus at a New Jersey hospital, according to reports.

Doctors at Hackensack University Medical Center said Tuesday that the 31-year-old woman was visiting the U.S. and contracted the disease internationally, according to WNBC 4.

The child was born with microcephaly, a condition where the child’s brain and head are partially developed.

 

The hospital would not release any further details, saying only in a statement that the mother was receiving “exceptional care” and “we would appreciate everyone respecting the mother’s privacy,” NBC reported.

The mother, whose name was not released, contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus while in Honduras and was admitted to the emergency room at Hackensack Friday while vacationing in the U.S., according to Fox News.

 

On Tuesday, doctors delivered a baby girl, who was born with the telltale signs of microcephaly as well as intestinal and visual issues.

The woman was under the care of a surgical team led by Dr. Abdulla Al-Khan and Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor at FoxNews.com and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Hackensack.

The Center for Disease Control said in April there is no longer any doubt the Zika virus causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and other severe brain defects.