Zika virus testing in Nova Scotia no surprise to microbiologist

More than 50 women in Nova Scotia have been tested for the Zika virus since January — a number Nova Scotia's chief microbiologist says isn't surprising.

"The more people who travel, the more we would expect to potentially be pregnant and want to know whether or not they've been exposed to the virus," said Dr. Todd Hatchette, chief of microbiology with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

• Zika virus: What you need to know and how to protect yourself

Zika is the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to birth defects and microcephaly in Brazil.

Under the current provincial guidelines, any pregnant women who have travelled to South America, Central America or the Caribbean should be tested.

Virus poses a 'challenge'

Women with partners who may have travelled to the affected areas should also be tested.

"The challenge with this particular virus, like any emerging pathogen, is trying to provide guidelines and information when there really hasn't been any," Hatchette said.

"And we're finding out more information now about the potential for sexual transmission for this."

Hatchette said women from all over the province have been tested.

The samples are collected at his team's lab in Halifax and then sent to the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg.

First Canadian case

On Monday, that Winnipeg lab confirmed Canada's first-known sexually transmitted case of Zika in Ontario.

With so many Canadians travelling south this time of year, Hatchette said a sexually transmitted case is probably not surprising.

"The concern is that you'll start to see transmissions in the southern United States, in Florida and Texas, where this mosquito lives," he said.

"We haven't seen any direct mosquito-to-human case in the U.S. at the moment."

Health officials are also advising women who could become pregnant to use condoms for six months after returning from one of the Zika-affected areas.