China confirms first case of Zika virus

Beijing / Hong Kong: China has confirmed its first case of the Zika virus in a man who had recently travelled to South America, the official Xinhua news agency said. The virus, which is causing international alarm after spreading through much of the Americas, was detected in a 34-year-old man from Ganxian county in the eastern province of Jiangxi, Xinhua said, citing China's National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Chinese health authorities downplayed the risk of the mosquito-borne virus spreading because of the winter cold, Xinhua added. There is a risk Zika could be spread locally if it was introduced to Hong Kong, the statement said.