国际英语新闻:Spain reports first case of Zika-related birth defect

MADRID, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The first case of microcephaly in the fetus of a woman infected by the Zika virus has been detected in Spain, it has been confirmed by health authorities in the Catalan region of Spain.

The woman is reported to be 20 weeks pregnant and was infected with the virus during a trip to Latin America. The Spanish media reports that she intends to continue with her pregnancy.

The Zika Virus is thought to be responsible for causing microcephaly, which means the brain fails to develop properly, in some fetuses carried by infected women.

The virus has so far been detected in 13 pregnant women in Spain, but this is the first malformation that authorities have discovered.

The Catalan Health Authority has highlighted the importance of informing pregnant women of the possible risks of travelling to areas where the Zika virus can spread, especially the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.

The Spanish Ministry for Health, Social Services and Equality informs on its official website a total of 105 cases of the Zika virus have been detected in Spain to date, highlighting that in every case the virus was contracted when the victim was travelling abroad and that so far there have been no cases of anyone being infected within Spain.