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Baby born in Florida with Zika-related microcephaly is first in the state

The Florida Department of Health confirmed Tuesday the first Zika-related case of microcephaly in a child born in Florida whose mother had a travel-related case of Zika.

The mother, a citizen of Haiti, contracted the virus and came to Florida to deliver her baby.

The Florida DOH is working with the family to connect the baby to services through the Early Steps program.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement:

"It is heartbreaking to learn that a baby has been born with Zika-related microcephaly in our state and my thoughts and prayers are with the mother and child. Following this news, I have requested the CDC to immediately host a call with Florida health care professionals to discuss the neurological impacts of Zika and how this virus impacts new and expecting moms. The Olympics will begin in less than 40 days and millions of Americans will travel through our state to and from Brazil, a country where the Zika virus is rapidly spreading, and we must be prepared.

"Last week, following Washington's failure to approve funding for Zika preparedness, I used my emergency executive authority to allocate $26.2 million in state funds for Zika preparedness, prevention and response in Florida. While these funds will be incredibly useful in our fight against the Zika virus, Washington must also recognize that Zika is not just a Florida issue, but a national emergency. Florida has continued to step-up and fund issues when the federal government has failed to show up and Washington has to stop playing politics with the health, safety and wellbeing of Florida's families.

"Now that a baby has been born in our state with adverse impacts from Zika, it is clear that every available resource is needed to prevent local transmissions in our state."

Scott is attending a Zika virus roundtable at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville with the Duval County Department of Health.

The first Zika virus case was confirmed in Duval County earlier in June. There are two cases reported  in Clay County, and two cases in St. Johns County. All cases are travel-related.

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