Zika virus cases in Alberta climb to 26

Alberta Health confirms 26 cases of the Zika virus in the province as a result of travel from areas facing outbreaks, warning there is a low risk the disease could spread through sexual contact.

Officials say the virus isnot coming frommosquitoes native to Alberta.

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"There is no risk thatAlbertanswho are in the province will getZikavirus from a mosquito because the mosquitos that transmitZikavirus do not live in Canada due to the climate," saidCarolynZieglerfromAlberta Health.

They warn sexual contact with either an infected personin or returning from regionswhere theZikavirus is circulating couldposea low risk of transmitting the disease.

Officials don't expect the number of cases to increase while Albertans continue to travel to at-risk areas.

"Alberta Health continues to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada to monitor the number of cases of Zika virus in Alberta," saidZiegler.

The only group needing to worry about the Zika virusare women who either are or who plan to becomepregnant, saidGlen Armstrong, a professor of microbiology at theUniversity of Calgary.

"If you're not pregnant or just pregnant and infected, then there's very little risk at all," he said.

"This is a fairly mild viral infection, 80 per cent of people infected with the virus infactdon't even know they're infected. They may feel a littlewoozy for a day or two but that's about it."

The virus is a mosquito-borneinfection that spreads to people bitten by infected insects.

If Zika spreads to a pregnant woman it cancause microcephalyin unborn babies which isa rare but serious condition causing children to be born with small heads and underdeveloped brains.

Armstrong said the virus has only beenfound ina type of mosquito that lives near the equator.

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