Zika cases confirmed in Finland

  • 11/02/2016
Zika cases confirmed in Finland

Two people in Finland have tested positive for the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus since last summer, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has revealed.

The first case was a man who returned from the Maldives in June, the World Health Organization said on its website - about the same time that the outbreak was first reported in Brazil.

The second case was diagnosed more recently, THL said on Wednesday (local time), declining to give any further details.

The Zika virus is linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil and is spreading rapidly in the Americas.

There are also cases in European countries.

Reuters