Australian Resident Tests Positive for Zika Following Trip Abroad

Sydney — An Australian resident from Queensland state has tested positive to Zika virus, after returning from a holiday in Thailand and Indonesia.

The Queensland state government confirmed the imported case of the virus to Xinhua on Monday.

Director of Tropical Public Health Services Richard Gair said authorities were responding to the situation.

“If local mosquitoes have bitten the affected individual, the mosquitoes will not become infectious until the middle of next week,” Gair said.

The Asia-Pacific has been on high alert for the mosquito-borne virus, currently found in epidemic proportions in the Americas, after being declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) in early February.

The virus has been linked to birth defects in unborn babies.

The Queensland state government noted Zika virus was usually a mild disease.

“However given the possible risk to unborn babies, pregnant women or women planning a pregnancy are urged to be vigilant,” they said. (PNA/Xinhua) BNB/EBP