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Dominican Republic has 3 babies with birth defect from Zika

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has reported its first three cases of babies born with a birth defect linked to the mosquito-borne Zika virus.

Health Ministry officials say three babies were born with the condition known as microcephaly. The babies were born in June and July but it took time to confirm the condition and the link to the Zika virus in the mothers.

None of the mothers recalled having symptoms of Zika, which include fever, rash, joint pain and reddened eyes. Micrcocephaly is a defect in which a baby’s head does not develop fully and is smaller than expected.

Health Minister Altagracia Guzman urged women Thursday to avoid pregnancy for the rest of the year and through early 2017 due to the risks of Zika.

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