Malaysia confirmed its first case of a pregnant woman infected with the Zika virus, Malaysian Health Minister S Subramaniam said.

The woman is a 27-year-old, according to the Malaysian Health Ministry, Channel News Asia reported.

On Thursday, Malaysia recorded its first case of Zika virus infection when a 58-year-old woman from Klang tested positive for the disease after returning from Singapore on August 21.

On Saturday, the Health Minister confirmed the first locally transmitted Zika virus infection case involving a 61-year-old man from Sabah. However, the man later died from heart-related complications. 

The Malaysian Health Ministry said that since the Zika virus had been detected in the country the number of cases was expected to increase further, "especially if prevention activities for Aedes are not seriously taken up by the community, individuals and other relevant agencies".

It has initiated vector control activities, including eliminating Aedes breeding sites, larvaciding and fogging in residential areas and places that the patient had visited.

Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly - a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized - as well as other brain abnormalities.

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last year in Brazil, which has since confirmed more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly.

Source: MENA