Three, including two pregnant women, test positive for Zika virus in Norway

Three people, including two pregnant women, have tested positive for the Zika virus in Norway since screening began in February, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) said on Thursday.

The NIPH has been notified of three confirmed cases of the Zika virus for Norwegian travelers who have stayed in affected countries in South America. Those who have tested positive are two pregnant women and one man, the institute said in a statement.

"The NIPH has conducted about 50 tests so far, and we get between five and 10 samples with questions about the Zika virus every day," Jorgen Bjornholt, chief physician at the NIPH, was quoted as saying.

"Several European countries have in recent weeks reported cases of confirmed the Zika virus among travelers who have been in Zika-affected areas in the Americas. It is therefore not surprising that such cases also appear in Norway," he added.

The NIPH advises pregnant women not to travel to areas affected by the Zika virus and it is also recommended that pregnant women who have stayed in affected areas followed up by the regional fetal medicine centers after their return to Norway regardless of symptoms or not, the institute said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency in early February amid a Zika outbreak in Central and South America.

Symptoms of Zika include fever, joint pain, rash, conjunctivitis, headache and muscle pain. It is also a suspected cause of microcephaly in new-born babies. Endit