Zika virus in Spain

A pregnant woman in Catalonia has been identified with the Zika virus, that brings the total to 9 cases in the country.

The virus was first discovered in Brazil but has since spread to 22 other countries. It is transmitted by the Aeded aegypti mosquito and results in a dengue- like illness.

Apart from catching the virus from a mosquito, it is also possible to be infecting by a contaminated blood transfusion.

Although all the cases in Spain originated abroad, the worry is that the virus may be carried by local tiger mosquitoes which of course are rife.