South Korea confirms first case of Zika: Report

March 22, 2016 | 15:50

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Authorities in South Korea have confirmed the first case of the Zika virus in the country, the Yonhap news agency reported.

There is currently no vaccine for the Zika virus. (Photo: AFP/Luis Robayo)

SEOUL: Authorities in South Korea on Tuesday (Mar 22) confirmed its first case of a person infected with the Zika virus, the Yonhap news agency reported citing a government source.

Yonhap reported that a 43-year-old man tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus after travelling to Brazil between mid-February and early March, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is currently no vaccine for the virus. The World Health Organization on Feb 1 declared the Zika virus outbreak to be a global public health emergency, citing a "strongly suspected" relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly.

Zika has not been proven to cause microcephaly in babies, but there is growing evidence that suggests a link. The condition is defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems.

Brazil has been hardest hit by Zika, with some 1.5 million people infected and 745 confirmed cases of the syndrome. Affected countries are focusing on wiping out mosquito populations in an effort to curb its spread.

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