Cuba reports first case of Zika transmitted on the island

Havana, Mar 16: Cuban officials said they have detected the first case of the Zika virus transmitted inside the country, ending Cuba's status as one of the last nations in the hemisphere without domestic cases of the disease that has been linked to birth defects.

State media say a 21-year-old Havana woman who has not travelled outside Cuba was diagnosed with the virus after suffering headaches, fatigue and other symptoms.

On Monday, her blood tested positive for Zika. She remains hospitalised.

Cuba had previously reported a handful of cases of the disease in people who had travelled to countries with outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, particularly Venezuela.

Cuba has thrown more than 9,000 soldiers, police and university students into an effort to fumigate for mosquitoes and prevent a Zika epidemic.

AP