Malaysia confirms Zika in pregnant woman

Malaysia has confirmed its first case of Zika virus in a pregnant woman.

Malaysia has confirmed its first case of the Zika virus in a pregnant 27-year-old woman. (AAP)

Malaysia has confirmed its first case of the Zika virus in a pregnant 27-year-old woman.

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

Last week, Malaysia confirmed the first imported case of Zika in a 58-year-old woman who had visited Singapore. On Saturday, it confirmed the first case of a locally transmitted Zika infection.