One suspected case of Zika virus reported in Fiji

The Ministry of Health has reported one suspected case of Zika virus in Fiji.

The Ministry says this was an imported case and the person who was suspected with the virus is believed to have left the country.

Health spokesperson Sunil Chandra says the ministry has set up a strategy where people who enter the country and are sick are checked at the border controls.

About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika virus become ill where the illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

Zika virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person.

The diagnosis of the virus can only be determined 4 to 6 days after being bitten by the infected mosquito.

The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis.

Other common symptoms include muscle pain and headache and the illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week.

According to the information available, including the cases reported in New Zealand, the three Pacific countries where Zika virus infections are currently occurring are American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga.