Cuba reports first case of Zika contracted in the country

Zika virus is suspected of causing birth defects when it infects pregnant women

HAVANA:

Cuba's Health Ministry on Tuesday reported the first case of Zika contracted in the country, after four previous cases all involved people who had contracted the virus while abroad.

Zika, which is carried by mosquitoes that transmit the virus to humans, is suspected of causing birth defects when it infects pregnant women.

Outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Island and most recently, the Americas. As the mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are found throughout the world, including Pakistan, it is likely that outbreaks will continue to spread.