Health officials in Colombia are reporting a possible (unconfirmed) case of microcephaly in a aborted fetus in the city of Popayan in southwest Colombia, according to South American media (computer translated).

Aedes aegypti/CDC
Aedes aegypti/CDC

The report notes that the 18-year-old mother terminated the pregnancy after testing and medical examination demonstrated a congenital  abnormality, although it is noted what abnormality.

The amniotic fluid was tested for Zika virus and tested positive; however, the exact method of analysis was not reported.

A second Brazilian media report (computer translated) states the physician said the fetus had brain changes, microcephaly, tissue destruction and changes in cranial level.

The National Institute of Health of Colombia, “confirmed the suspicion, after studies in amniotic fluid from the mother showed the baby was infected by the virus”; however, it does not specify infection in the fetus or detection of the virus in amniotic fluid only.

The Zika virus has infected more than 37,000 people in Colombia and of this total more than 6,000 pregnant women in different regions of the country.

Related: