Zika virus case confirmed in Saskatchewan

A case of Zikavirus has been confirmed in Saskatchewan.

The Public Health Agency of Canadaconfirmed the province's first case of Zika virus on Thursday afternoon.

The positive test result came froma person who had travelled to a Zika-endemic country in the southern hemisphere, the provincial government said in a news release.

Occasional cases of Zika virus in returning travellers are to be expected, the release said.

Public health officials haven't provided any information about the infected person, or which country the person had visited. Theysaid the person and his or her physicianhave been notified.

The province's medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, will be speaking with media on Friday.

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The Zika virus is spread by mosquito bites and causes mild infections. There's mounting evidence linking it to a birth defect in Brazil.

Zika infection in pregnant women is associated with a rare condition called microcephaly, in which the head is smaller than normal and the brain doesn't develop properly.

TheAedesaegyptimosquito is the main carrier of theZikavirus. The species isnot found in Canada.