First case of pregnant woman with Zika virus confirmed in Spain

The first known case of a pregnant woman carrying Zika virus in Europe has been confirmed in Spain.

The Spanish health authorities said the mother-to-be, who is understood to be 13-14 weeks pregnant, brought the total to nine patients with Zika identified in the country.

"One of the patients diagnosed in [the northeastern region of] Catalonia is a pregnant woman, who showed symptoms after having travelled to Colombia," the health ministry said, adding that all were in a good condition of health.

Each of those carrying Zika had been infected abroad before returning to Spain.

The epidemic, which has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, began in Brazil last year, and has since spread to 22 other countries. The dengue-like illness is known to be spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

However, it has also emerged that the virus has been transmitted in Brazil through blood transfusions.

At least two cases of transmission through blood were found in Campinas, in the state of São Paulo.

A 20-year-old blood donor with Zika was identified after the victim of a shooting suffered a drop in platelet levels, which was inconsistent with his condition. The victim later died from his injuries.

A further 18 bags of blood were then analysed, with one testing positive. The donor had shown no symptoms when he gave blood, developing signs of Zika three days later but was treated instead for dengue.

"It's important to say that people should continue donating blood. Transfusion is safe," Carmino Antonio de Souza, health secretary in Campinas, said.

But as a result, the federal Ministry of Health has tightened guidelines for blood centres, requiring patients to report back with any new symptoms in the days after giving blood.

“It is important to clarify that the recipient patient did not die from Zika virus, but because of the severe clinical condition, being the victim of a firearm,” a Ministry of Health spokeswoman said.

“Thus, the capacity for virus infection through blood contamination should be evaluated along with haemo-vigilance procedures that should be adopted according to the new findings.”

The Brazilian government has mounted a nationwide campaign to promote awareness of Zika among the public, deploying 220,000 troops to publicise the fight against disease-carrying mosquitos.

“It is worth noting that the mosquito Aedes aegypti remains the most responsible for the transmission of Zika virus,” a spokeswoman added.

“Thus, it is essential that people keep donating blood, an act that helps save lives.”

Scientists are concerned that Zika could infect hundreds of thousands of people in Spain if local mosquitoes begin to transmit the virus.

So far only the only cases of zika infections in Europe were in people who had contracted the virus while abroad.

But the Spanish health authorities said that international travel and global warming could help the Aedes aegypti spread to the tiger mosquito, which is rife in Spain.

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