Four new infected with Zika virus cases, including another pregnant woman

Barcelona (CNA).- The Catalan Ministry for Health has confirmed that there are four new people infected with Zika virus in Catalonia. These cases have been detected in the last week and one of them is a pregnant woman. The disease is especially grave for pregnant women as it may cause malformations in the baby’s brain, which may lead to it being underdeveloped. Indeed, in the beginning of May the health authorities in Catalonia confirmed the first case of Zika-linked microcephaly, as the foetus of an infected woman suffered from several malformations. The number of infected with Zika virus in Catalonia since the 1^st of January totals 45, 29 women and 16 men. All of them reported having been in South or Central America, in those areas where Zika is most active, and confirmed that they were bitten by mosquitoes during their stay.

The number of pregnant woman infected with Zika virus up to now is five. Besides the recently detected cases and the woman whose foetus was detected as suffering from several malformations, three are taking part in strict medical controls to follow the development of their embryos. According to the Health Ministry in these cases the babies are growing without problems. Another woman infected by Zika while pregnant recently delivered a perfectly healthy baby.

The health authorities wanted to remind that Zika virus is mostly spread by an Aedes mosquito bite. It provokes light or moderate fever, skin rash which may extend from the face to the rest of the body, arthritis or temporary arthralgia, conjunctivitis and other unspecific symptoms such as headache, fatigue and myalgia. According to the authorities, most of the cases tend to be resolved without any major complications. Moreover, most of the infections are asymptomatic and only 1 out of 4 cases actually develops the disease.