Hong Kong confirmed the first case of Zika virus in the country late on Thursday, putting the Asian financial centre on high alert for the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said the virus-affected woman had travelled with two other family members to the Caribbean and stayed there from Aug 6 to 20.
The CHP said the woman alleged she had been stung by a mosquito at the Caribbean, not in Hong Kong. The officials have not revealed the nationality and identity of the woman.
"The patient is a 38-year-old woman with good past health. She has developed joint pain and red eyes since August 20," the department of health said in a statement.
However, her family members have not shown any symptoms as of now.
The patient has been kept in a mosquito-free hospital now. The health authorities said they will follow up on the case closely and monitor the places she has been to.
CHP also added that the government's priority was to control the mosquito population in Hong Kong and hence relevant measures had been taken to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that can be passed from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. The virus can cause birth defects and can also result in microcephaly. Microphaly is a case where the baby's head is smaller than expected. At present, there is no vaccine for Zika.
The World Health Organisation says people infected with Zika can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for two to seven days.
