Tot dies in Texas after mother contracted disease in Latin America while pregnant
Baby dies after being born with Zika-related birth defect, microcephaly
A BABY has died in Texas after being born with Zika-related birth defects.
The baby died shortly after it was born to its mother in the US, in the first Zika-related death in the southern state.
It is understood the baby's mother had visited Latin America while she was pregnant where it is believed she was infected.
The virus was then passed onto the fetus, reported.
The baby was born with microcephaly, a birth defect where the baby's development is stunted, resulting in a smaller head and incomplete brain development.
Some reports out of the US have suggested the baby died several weeks ago but tests only confirmed the cause of death last week.
At least 15 babies have been born in the United States with defects related to the virus, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in July.
The baby's death is the first linked to the Zika virus in Texas and the second fatality in the intercontinental US.
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Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner Dr John Hellerstedt said: "Zika's impact on unborn babies can be tragic, and our hearts are with this family.
"Our central mission from the beginning has been to do everything we can to protect unborn babies from the devastating effects of Zika."
More than 1800 cases of Zika have been reported in the US according to federal data.
Out of those cases, six acquired the virus from mosquitoes and all of those cases were in Florida.
Almost 100 of the 1800 Zika cases were reported in Texas.
Most of the cases were travel-related with the travellers infected while overseas.
The US health department said Texas was on alert for the possibility of local transmission.
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