A Mexican woman who was confirmed positive for Zika virus infection, gave birth to a healthy baby boy Friday, Feb. 19. Mexico's ministry of health stated that the baby is "clinically healthy," amidst reports that the virus is causing a surge of babies born with birth defects.

The mother and the baby were examined at a hospital in Pijijiapan in Tuxla Gutierrez. The baby weighed about six pounds or 2.8 kilos at birth and didn't any have any abnormal indications associated with the Zika infection.

The mother is believed to have had the virus infection while pregnant, and there are five other pregnant women in the same situation. The local ministry said that the mothers are all in good health and are constantly receiving tests and "specialized care." So far, their fetuses do not indicate that they might be microcephalic.

Zika's Links To Microcephaly

Following the healthy birth, experts were finally able to confirm Zika's genome sequence and its ties with microcephaly, which is characterized as an inborn condition with babies developing unusually small heads and potential physical impairments.

Brazilian scientists from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro analyzed the amniotic fluid samples taken from pregnant women, as well as brain samples of deceased babies believed to have died because of the birth defect, to come up with the genome sequence.

"What we know now may help us understand why the virus has chosen children's brain cells over those of adults -- the pregnant women," said Professor Renato Santana. The world continues to wait for the research's further results.

Fears Worst Than Virus Itself

Meanwhile, other experts say that the fear around Zika could be worse than the actual scenario, when people bitten by a female Aedes aegypti mosquito often don't exhibit any symptoms nor develop any effect. Much of the anxiety and distress could be triggered by the fact that medical experts have yet to develop a cure or vaccine against Zika. "Because it is relatively new, few people have immune defenses against it," said Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Professor Luis Cuevas.

Zika outbreak is rampant in Latin American countries because the climate and environment are an ideal habitat for the Aedes aegypti mosquito. But in colder areas, like the United Kingdom or some parts of the United States, the mosquito would not be able to survive.

In the meantime, different health agencies have advised the public in Zika prone areas to adhere to certain preventive measures to ensure protection from the mosquito bites. These include applying mosquito repellents, covering up with proper clothing like long pants and long-sleeves shirts, using mosquito nets and spending less time outdoors.