The patient was the first imported Zika case in south China's Guangdong Province. He was admitted to hospital two weeks ago, when he developed a fever and rash, according to Yin Chibiao, head of the Guangzhou No. 8 People's Hospital.

China confirmed the first imported Zika case on Feb. 9. The patient, a 34-year-old man from Jiangxi, visited Venezuela on Jan. 28 and returned home on Feb. 5. He has been discharged from hospital.

On Thursday, health authorities with the Guangdong Provincial Disease Prevention and Control Center announced that they had isolated a Zika virus strain. The Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Guangzhou No. 8 People's Hospital also isolated two Zika virus strains, which will assist research into a possible vaccination and the transmission pattern of the virus.

With five confirmed imported Zika virus cases and the weather beginning to warm up across the country, China is on high alert.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has urged the public to stay vigilant as the spread of the illness cannot be ruled out in some regions where the mosquito population will increase as the weather warms.

Source: Xinhua