First Zika Case Reported In Philadelphia

Philadelphia health officials have confirmed the city’s first case of the Zika virus.

A 60-year-old woman who recently returned from the Caribbean contracted the virus, 6ABC reported. The woman is recovering without complications.

The Zika outbreak is now being called a worldwide health emergency. The mosquito-borne virus can cause birth defects, health officials believe.

The Zika virus outbreak is ongoing in several countries in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. See the full list of Zika travel alerts here.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently issued this Health Advisory on Zika, which notes that all suspected cases of the infection should be reported to state officials.

The concern follows reports of microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes in babies of mothers who were infected with Zika virus while pregnant. More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, according to the CDC.