Johannesburg: South Africa confirmed its first case of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in a Columbian man, health authorities said.

The virus, which is causing international alarm after spreading through much of the Americas, was detected in the man on his visit to Johannesburg, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said.

‘The businessman presented with fever and a rash approximately four days after arrival in South Africa but is now fully recovered,’ he said.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a global public health emergency on 1 February, noting its association with two neurological disorders — microcephaly in babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome that can cause paralysis.

‘The virus originated in Africa but, until 2007, there had been only 20 or so known human cases’, reported Sky News.

‘In May 2015, a case was diagnosed in Brazil and, since then, it has spread rapidly.’

‘It is associated with neurological disorders microcephaly in babies and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis.’