The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness says the province has identified its first confirmed case of the Zika virus.

A woman in her 30s acquired the virus while visiting a country affected by the outbreak.

Health officials say the woman was not hospitalized and has since recovered, but declined to say how or where she contracted the virus.

Zika is primarily passed to people through mosquitos that carry the virus. However, the department says the risk of Zika-infected mosquitos in Nova Scotia is very unlikely, as they are unable to survive in the northern climate.

"The risk of Zika to Nova Scotians and Canadians is extremely low. We are not aware of any cases transmitted by mosquitos to humans that originated in Canada," said Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Frank Atherton.

“Nova Scotians travelling to Zika-affected countries, especially women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, should take preventative measures to reduce their exposure to mosquitos."

Atherton said the public health office has sent out emails to doctors around the province, outlining a protocol for when tests should be conducted and sent to a federal laboratory for analysis.

According to a Health Canada website, there have been 80 travel-related cases of Zika and one locally acquired case through sexual transmission, as of May 12.

There has been one confirmed case of Zika in New Brunswick. The New Brunswick Health Department said last month that the person did not have to be hospitalized and has since recovered from the virus.

Zika causes mild illness or no symptoms in most people but is believed to be linked to a birth defect that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads. It's also potentially linked to neurological disorders in some infected children and adults.

"People who do travel to countries being affected by Zika outbreak can protect themselves by covering up and by avoiding mosquito bites," said Atherton.

"It's that subset of women who are pregnant and who are thinking of becoming pregnant that we need to take special precautions for."

Zika has been found in about 20 countries in Central and Latin America and has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.

The virus can be transmitted through sexual activity, but the department says that is rare. It says men should use condoms for six months, with any partner who could become pregnant, upon their return from a Zika-affected country.

Women who return from a Zika-affected area should wait at least two months before trying to become pregnant.

Maritimers travelling to an area affected by the Zika virus can protect themselves by:

  • using insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin on exposed skin
  • sleeping under a bed net if accommodations are outdoors or not enclosed
  • booking accommodations that are well-screened or completely enclosed with air conditioning
  • covering up with light-coloured clothing, long-sleeves, long pants and shoes, not sandals.

With files from The Canadian Press