A Malaysian is believed to be the first victim to have been infected by locally-transmitted Zika virus in Singapore.

According to Singapore’s Straits Times, the 47-year-old woman was today tested positive for the virus even though she had never travelled to Zika-affected areas recently.

The woman, who lives in Aljunied, was tested at the Communication Disease Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital after developing Zika-like symptoms two days ago.

She was hospitalised but is recovering, said the report.

According to a Facebook statement by Singapore’s Health Ministry, it said the importation of Zika virus was inevitable due to the volume of travel by Singaporeans and tourists.

“There is also risk of subsequent local transmission, as the Aedes mosquito vector is present here,” it said.

In May, Singapore recorded its first imported Zika virus case after a 48-year-old Singapore permanent citizen became infected after visiting Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He developed symptoms upon returning to Singapore and was subsequently tested positive for the virus. He eventually recovered from the infection.

On Thursday, Hong Kong also confirmed its first case of imported Zika virus after a foreigner based in the city became infected after returning from the Caribbean.

The Zika outbreak first started in Brazil in 2014 but had quickly spread across South America.

Since then, the virus has been reported in several territories outside South America, including North America, the Caribbean, Western Pacific and Africa.

The Zika virus infection is a concern particularly among pregnant woman as the virus is feared to be the cause of microcephaly in infants.