Test results are pending for a pregnant woman in San Antonio who may have contracted Zika virus while in South America. The patient showed most of the symptoms of Zika according to Dr. Kelly Morales, a staff obstetrician-gynecologist at Methodist Hospital.
While the Zika virus in adults and children causes flu-like symptoms, it could result in a baby being born with Microcephaly, which causes a small brain and head.
Some of Dr. Morales’ patients are concerned about the virus. She tells them to protect themselves from mosquitoes and avoid travel to affected countries.
“I’m also letting them know that exposure to Zika is not a guaranteed infection,” said Morales. It’s not even a guaranteed issue with the baby, and we’re still trying to sort out the actual affects on babies, which I think helps them a little bit to know that just because you’re exposed doesn’t mean you’re going to get infected and just because you get infected it does not necessarily mean that you’re going to see effects on the baby. We’re still trying to figure that out.”
Blood work on the patient with symptoms began two weeks ago. Results should be known within a matter of days.
