Zika virus now an international emergency

Chinese officials said Wednesday that Zika was detected in a man who had recently traveled to South America, marking the country’s first case of the mosquito-borne virus. State news agency Xinhua reported a 34-year-old man from the eastern province of Jiangxi has been quarantined at a hospital since Feb. 6. While Chinese health authorities said it was unlikely the virus would spread because of the winter cold, Hong Kong’s Port Health Office has stepped up inspections at the airport. If introduced in Hong Kong, Zika could spread since the Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, are local. The infected man also traveled through Hong Kong on his return to China. The rapid spread of Zika has caused global alarm, prompting the World Health Organization to declare an international health emergency on Feb. 1.