The Regional Health Authority in Galicia on Friday reported the first case of a foetus suffering a malformation due to infection by the Zika Virus.
It said in a statement that the mother was infected by the virus in a visit to Venezuela during the eighth week of her pregnancy and was confirmed to have suffered the illness in April.
It said early tests on the foetus failed to show any problems, but a second series of tests in the 19th week of her pregnancy showed the baby had suffered “important abnormalities in the central nervous system.’’
The statement added that it also detected the virus in the mother’s amniotic fluid.
The authority said the pregnancy was terminated in the 21st week and further investigations showed the foetus had suffered congenital arthrogryposis as well as water on the brain and cerebral micro-calcification.
The Spanish Health Ministry said in its latest figures published at the start of the week that 145 Zika cases had been detected in Spain.
It said the 145 cases, including 20 pregnant women, were people infected while visiting a country (normally in Latin America) where the virus is prevalent.
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