Havana, March 2 (RHC)-- Cuba has diagnosed the first case of Zika virus in the country -- an imported case-- the Ministry of Public Health reported today.

The ministry said that the patient, a young Venezuelan doctor who arrived in the country for a post-graduate course in gastroenterology, has remained hospitalized at the "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine since February 24th.

The 28 year-old Venezuelan patient arrived in Cuba on February 21st from the state of Aragua. She stayed at the Machurrucutu Student Residence, in Bauta, in western Artemisa province, for epidemiological surveillance, along with 37 other doctors, none of whom have developed Zika virus symptoms to date.

Regarding previous cases of the illness in her family, the Venezuelan patient said that her brother-in-low was diagnosed with Zika virus two weeks ago, while her husband contracted the disease two months ago.