The New Brunswick Health Department says a recent traveller has been the first laboratory-confirmed case of Zika virus infection in the Maritimes.

Dr. Jennifer Russel, acting chief medical officer of New Brunswick, did not say whether it was a New Brunswick man or woman affected or what affected country they visited, but says the person is doing well. 

“The person has not been hopsitalized, they have recovered from the virus, so there’s no further action that needs to be taken at this point with that individual,” said Dr. Russel. 

The virus is linked to birth defects, and has been found in about 20 southern countries.

“For the Zika virus to spread you have to be bitten by the mosquito,” said Dr. Russel. “We don't have those mosquitos here. There is a rare chance that somebody could get it via sexual transmission.”

Anybody travelling to an affected country is being warned to follow steps to prevent mosquito bites.

“Personally I'm really scared of that stuff, so I would probably postpone my trip,” said Fredericton resident Leanne Wright. “I would definitely look into it and do a lot of research on it.”

Pregnant woman, in particular, are being asked to avoid travel to countries with a Zika outbreak.

“For a woman who has returned from a place with Zika virus, to not get pregnant within the first two months of coming back from one of the affected countries,” said Dr. Russel.

With the latest case in New Brunswick, there have now been 60 laboratory-confirmed reports of the Zika virus in Canada.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.