Florida sees first newborn with Zika-related microcephaly

MIAMI – A baby with Zika-related microcephaly was born in Florida, Department of Health officials said Tuesday.

The baby is the first child to be born in Florida with the defect, which causes abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development, as a result of the Zika virus. The mother, a citizen of Haiti, had a travel-related case of Zika and came to Florida to deliver her baby, officials said. Previous cases in which mothers with travel-related cases of the virus gave birth to babies with microcephaly were reported in Hawaii and New Jersey.

As of now, all 213 Zika cases in Florida are travel-related. Of those cases, 40 involve pregnant women, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

Babies with microcephaly often have a series of developmental problems, including intellectual disability, hearing loss and vision problems and problems with movement and balance. Researchers established a connection between the birth defect and the Zika virus, which is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, earlier this year.

Following the announcement, Florida Gov. Rick Scott called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to host a call with Florida medical professionals to discuss precautions for pregnant women.

Last week, Scott announced that he would use executive powers to spend up to $26.2 million in state money to fight Zika. He had previously called for immediate federal action.

Florida officials said they are working to connect the mother and her child with the department's Early Steps program, which establishes support for families with infants and toddlers who have a condition that could result in a developmental delay.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas called Democrats "sore losers" and said that they, not Republicans, will pay a price for blocking the $1.1 billion Zika funding package, which was to be attached to a funding bill for veterans and military construction.

"Here we are in an utterly absurd position, playing political games as this public health crisis mounts here in our country," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said after the vote.

The measure was blocked on a 52-48 vote, short of the 60-vote threshold needed to advance it. Democratic leaders called for a new round of negotiations to produce a bipartisan bill.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said that Democrats "have been trying for months" to pass President Obama's request for $1.9 billion to fund Zika control efforts. The Republican measure blocked Tuesday would take away funding from birth control, veterans and combating Ebola, he said.