Texas has confirmed that an infant who recently died in Harris County had microcephaly linked to the Zika virus. The baby passed away shortly after birth and is the first Zika-related death reported in Texas.
During her pregnancy, the mother was in Latin America, where she was infected, and the baby acquired the infection in the womb. Recent test results confirmed the baby’s condition and link to Zika. The mother and baby are classified as travel-related cases, and there is no additional associated risk in Texas.
Last month Texas reported the state’s first case of microcephaly linked to Zika, also a Harris County infant.
“Zika’s impact on unborn babies can be tragic, and our hearts are with this family,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner. “Our central mission from the beginning has been to do everything we can to protect unborn babies from the devastating effects of Zika.”
DSHS is coordinating with Harris County Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to follow the cases.
Texas has reported 97 cases of Zika virus disease, including the two infants with microcephaly from Harris County. All Texas cases are related to travel abroad to areas with active Zika transmission. There have been no reported cases of Zika virus disease transmitted by mosquitoes in Texas, but Texas is on alert for the possibility local transmission.
With its link to microcephaly, Zika poses a serious threat to unborn children. DSHS is tracking the number of pregnant women with Zika in the state, working with providers and reporting weekly data to the national Zika pregnancy registry. DSHS is studying past microcephaly data to understand the prevalence and patterns of this condition in Texas.
DSHS has been emphasizing precautions, specifically for travelers and pregnant women, through an ongoing public education campaign and via www.TexasZika.org.
Common symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, according to the CDC. Approximately one in five people infected with the virus show symptoms. Severe complications from the virus that require hospitalization are rare, according to the CDC.
Mosquito repellent is now available as a Medicaid benefit!
Beginning August 9, 2016, Texas Medicaid will cover certain mosquito repellent products (PDF) as a Medicaid benefit for the prevention of Zika virus. Zika can cause severe birth defects in unborn children whose mothers are infected while pregnant. Because there is not a vaccine to prevent the disease or medicine to treat it, it is important for women to use repellent to protect themselves and unborn babies.
Who is covered?
Women ages 10-45 and pregnant women of any age in the following programs:
Medicaid
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP-Perinate
Healthy Texas Women
Benefit details:
A prescription is required, as with over-the-counter medications.
One can/bottle of mosquito repellent is permitted per prescription fill, with one refill allowed per calendar month.*
This benefit ends on October 31st, 2016.
Prescriptions for mosquito repellent will not count against the monthly 3 prescription limit for those clients with a monthly limit.
Repellent will be provided at no cost to Medicaid clients.
CHIP members may pay the generic copay or less, if the cost of the repellent is less than the copay.
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