Doctors are awaiting test results on a baby born with microcephaly to determine whether the child suffered the birth defect as a result of the mother contracting the Zika virus.
However, one gynaecologist said given the high incidence rate of babies born with microcephaly being linked to the virus, there would be much suspicion among the population.
On September 22, the Ministry of Health said that there were 294 Zika-positive pregnancies while the number of confirmed Zika cases stood at 489.
The child was born at the Gulf View Medical Centre (GVMC) a week ago and was diagnosed with microcephaly, a birth defect where a baby's head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states.
The baby was transferred to the San Fernando General Hospital where South West Regional Health Authority CEO Anil Gosine confirmed that the child was admitted to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
GVMC director Dr David Ali said the mother showed no signs of the Zika virus during pregnancy, but when the baby was diagnosed with microcephaly, the mother was tested and it was confirmed that she had the Zika virus.
Ali said sometimes someone would have Zika and show no symptoms, hence it was not picked up during the mother's pregnancy.
In a statement last night, the Ministry of Health confirmed the birth of a baby with microcephaly.
"The mother was attended to privately and was not a patient of the Mt Hope Maternity Hospital where the national screening effort is located. It is to be noted that Trinidad and Tobago registers approximately 12 cases of microcephaly yearly due to a variety of genetic causes. To date, this case cannot be directly attributed to the Zika virus and the assistance of PAHO/WHO has been sought to make a clinical determination," the statement said.
The CDC said their scientists found enough evidence to conclude that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly and other severe foetal brain defects.
Local paediatric neurologist Dr Rajindra Parag said the main cause of microcephaly or a small head is when the brain does not develop from the offset due to lack of oxygen, blood or viral infection. Parag said it can sometimes be a genetic condition while at other times no cause can be found.
He said the survival of babies with microcephaly depends on the severity of the impairment to brain development, but there were major problems of epilepsy and low intelligence and, in some cases, problems with speaking.