In Taiwan, Indonesian Workers Infected by Zika Virus?

TAIPEI - The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported on Monday the third imported case of a mosquito-borne Zika infection in Taiwan this year, this time involving an Indonesian national who arrived in Taiwan to work on June 1.

The 22 year old man from Mojokerto, East Java did not feel well on the plane on his way to Taiwan. He arrived at Kaohsiung International Airport with a fever and red eyes.

CDC said he was tested for dengue fever on the spot, but the result was negative. He was then confirmed to be infected the Zika virus on Sunday, according to the agency. The patient has recovered and will go to work on a Taiwanese deep sea fishing vessel that leaves Kaohsiung on Tuesday..

The case is the first Zika infection exported by Indonesia this year. Noting that it has reported the case to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian government and the World Health Organization.

CDC also updated its travel advisory for Indonesia to alert based on its three-level system -- watch, alert and warning -- in order of severity. The first two imported Zika cases were both Thai nationals from Udon Thani in northern Thailand.

According to the CDC, adults show only mild symptoms after being infected with the Zika virus, but infected pregnant women could give birth to babies with microcephaly -- a condition where a child is born with a smaller-than-normal head and impaired brain development.

It advised pregnant women and women planning to get pregnant to avoid traveling to Zika epidemic areas, and urged people to seek medical attention immediately if they display suspicious symptoms within two weeks after leaving a Zika epidemic area. The symptoms of the Zika virus include fevers, mild headaches, skin rashes, joint pain and conjunctivitis.

The CDC urged women returning from a Zika epidemic area to delay pregnancy for two months whether they display any suspicious symptoms or not.

For men returning from a Zika epidemic area without any suspicious symptoms, they should avoid sexual intercourse or use condoms for two months, and those suspected of being infected with the virus should avoid sex or use condoms for at least six months, the CDC said.

Also on Monday, Kaohsiung's Department of Health said a husband and wife who were reported as suspected Zika cases last month have been ruled out for the infection after two blood tests.

Instead, the couple, who traveled to Fiji and the Solomon Islands between April 23 and May 16, were confirmed to be infected with the Chikungunya virus, the department said.