First Zika virus pregnancy case in Europe confirmed

Spain confirms that a pregnant woman who recently returned form Colombia has been diagnosed with the Zika virus 

Spain has confirmed that a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with the Zika virus, the first reported case in Europe.

The health ministry said in a statement that the woman had recently returned from Colombia, where it is believed she was infected, and was diagnosed with the virus in the north-eastern Catalonia region.

It did not release the woman’s name, but said she was one of seven confirmed Zika cases in the country.

It added that two more patients were in Catalonia, two in Castile and Leon, one in Murcia and one in the capital Madrid.

"All are in good health," the ministry said, insisting that "the diagnosed cases of Zika virus in Spain... don't risk spreading the virus in our country as they are imported cases".

The Zika virus, which is spreading through the Americas, has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

The World Health Organization recently declared the microcephaly condition, linked to the mosquito-borne virus, a global public health emergency.

The WHO on Thursday also advised countries not to accept blood donations from people who had travelled to Zika-affected regions.