New Delhi

Zika virus spreads mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which bites during the day. Aedes mosquitoes are the same that transmit dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause infants to be born with microcephaly and other congenital malformations.

Kerala Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Veena George on Thursday said the first case of Zika virus has been reported in the state and the samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for final confirmation.