The women
on the
frontline
Zika
A year ago, female doctors in Brazil first identified a terrifying
disease causing babies to be born with a heartbreaking disability.
Today, it’s a global epidemic. Now, the fight is on to save the
generation of Zika babies. By Donna Bowater and Daniela Elser
THE ZIKA VICTIM
MARIA CAROLINA SILVA FLORWhen Maria Carolina Silva Flor got sick,
she wasn’t worried. The 21-year-old from
Esperança, Paraíba, in the north-east of Brazil,
was three months pregnant when she came
down with a fever. A rash appeared. Despite
this, a nurse assured her it was a simple virus
and not to worry. “I took painkillers, rested in
bed and recovered,” she explains.
Three months later an ultrasound showed
Flor’s baby was developing normally and was
healthy. At a regular check-up at the eight-
month mark her doctor said the pregnancy was
progressing well. “When my daughter [Maria
Gabriella] was born, they didn’t show her to
me, only later with my husband. I didn’t know
she would be born with microcephaly. It was
a surprise to me,” she says. “Everyone was
taken aback because everything had been fine.
It was a shock for us, we’d been deceived.”Despite the bombshell, Flor’s maternal
instinct kicked in. “She was so small, but I
already loved her unconditionally.”
Maria Gabriella is now seven months old.
In her short life, she has been hospitalised
for a fever and treated by a physiotherapist,
eye doctor, neurologist, occupational thera-
pist and a paediatrician. Despite having to
contend with a litany of medical appoint-
ments, Flor says life has “largely been fine”.
“She’s very tranquil. But she doesn’t like
to be alone. If she’s alone for a long time, she
gets desperate,” says Flor. “I have a son, João
Gabriel, who is two years old, and he’s very
loving with her.” However, her family’s future
is clouded by uncertainty.
“There’s no government support,” says
Flor. A question mark hangs over whether the
couple will have a third child. “If I get pregnant
again, will I have another child with micro-
cephaly? Because they say it stays in the body
for some time and we don’t know anything.”Maria Carolina
Silva Flor, 21,
looks down at
her baby, Maria
Gabriella, two
months, who
was born with
microcephaly
after her mother
was infected
with the Zika
virus while
pregnant.
marieclaire.com.au 75World report