he first imported case of Zika virus infection in Beijing was reported on Sunday, the capital’s health and family planning commission said in a statement

he first imported case of Zika virus infection in Beijing was reported on Sunday, the capital’s health and family planning commission said in a statement

The patient, a 29-year-old female from eastern Shandong Province, developed a skin rash and a fever in Venezuela on May 11 local time and returned to China on May 13 Beijing time

She was tested positive for the virus on Sunday and is currently receiving treatment in hospital

But experts from the commission said further spreading of the disease in Beijing is relatively low

China confirmed its first imported case of Zika at February, Xinhua reported, as fears mount over the fast-spreading virus that has been linked to severe birth defects mostly in Latin America

Few cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been reported in Asia, but the World Health Organisation has declared a global health emergency to combat Zika as cases spread elsewhere

The disease starts with a mosquito bite and normally causes little more than a fever and rash. Zika has however been linked to a surge in the number of children in Latin America born with microcephaly - abnormally small heads and brains

So far, 26 countries have confirmed cases of the virus, and dozens of Europeans and North Americans returning from Zika-affected areas have also tested positive for the virus

Brazil has been hardest hit by the outbreak with more than 20,000 cases, including over 2,000 pregnant women

Thailand and Indonesia have reported one case each, but health experts have warned some Asian nations are vulnerable to a Zika outbreak. Health authorities have said Zika could infect up to four million people in Latin America and spread worldwide