The Zika virus outbreak has been proven to be very dangerous especially for pregnant women. The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to the development of several pregnancy complications and birth defect development in babies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Friday, Feb. 26 that two abortions, two miscarriages and one case of microcephaly have occurred among the nine identified Zika-infected pregnant women in the U.S. as reported by the Washington Post. The agency also reported that two of the nine pregnant women with Zika virus delivered healthy babies while the other two are still pregnant.
The nine women in the U.S. identified to have acquired Zika virus were among the 257 women who requested for Zika virus testing. All of the nine women visited countries in Latin America affected by Zika virus and all of them displayed the symptoms of the disease such as fever, rashes, pain and conjunctivitis.
One of the pregnant women who decided to undergo abortion acquired the infection during the first trimester of her pregnancy. A few months later, she found out through ultrasound that her child has serious brain defects and that the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby has Zika virus content. "After discussion with her health-care providers, the patient elected to terminate her pregnancy," the CDC stated.
The other woman who underwent abortion also contacted the infection during the first trimester of her pregnancy. Two of the nine identified women suffered miscarriages while one woman gave birth to a baby with microcephaly -- a birth defect identified by a much smaller head size, eye problems, difficulties swallowing, seizure episodes and other brain abnormalities.
Many health experts are convinced that the link between Zika virus and birth defects is a reality but there is no conclusive proof yet, USA Today reports. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Zika virus should be seen as "guilty until proven innocent".
