One of the first babies to be born with Zika-related complications in South Florida is being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Doctors met with reporters Friday to talk about the baby’s course of treatment.
Maria Ramírez de Mendoza tested positive for Zika in April. Two months later she gave birth to her daughter Micaela “Milagros”- a Spanish name for miracle.
Maria was told that Micaela showed no signs of microcephaly, a birth defect often associated with Zika that delays fetal brain growth.
But doctors found calcifications in Micaela’s brain, which can lead to hearing loss and learning disabilities.
Dr. Audina Berrocal says the Zika virus attacks the neural system, and doctors should try to identify any complications in a baby before and after birth — like they did with Micaela.
“The whole point is finding them very early on in the course of her life, so everything can be tackled at the right time to get the best outcomes and the most normal life that she can have.”
There’s still a chance Micaela – because her brain is still developing — won’t have long-term complications.
In the meantime, she is getting occupational and physical therapy, while participating in assessments for Zika research.
