Two infants in Thailand confirmed to be infected with Zika virus

BANGKOK, September 30 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that two out of three infants recently born with their smaller heads than normal have been infected with the Zika virus, the first two Zika-infected newborns in the country. Prof. Emeritus Dr. Prasert Thongcharoen, Advisor to the ministry's Department of Disease Control, told journalists of the update on Friday, after his meeting with other epidemiology experts. Dr. Prasert affirmed that blood tests and the result of medical check-ups have shown the two babies suffering from Microcephaly with their abnormally smaller heads caused by their infection with the Zika virus. Dr. Prasert said his ministry has, thus, contacted the Royal College of the Pediatricians of Thailand to help closely monitor the development of the two babies to see how the defect could affect their growth development. For the third infant, Dr. Prasert acknowledged that more blood tests are needed to exactly determine whether the smaller head condition is caused by the Zika virus. Meanwhile, another unborn infant whose mother has contracted the Zika virus and is suspected to have Microcephaly, more close monitoring is needed until the mother gives birth to the baby. (TNA)