China's Henan Province has announced its first case of the Zika virus on Tuesday from an unnamed 28-year-old man who arrived at the Zhengzhou airport on Thursday morning.

The man, who was originally from Xian, in Shaanxi province, had been on a business trip to Guatemala for two months, according to the South China Morning Post. He flew to the United States last Tuesday and returned to China via Seoul on September 8.

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During an airport checkpoint health screening, the patient was suspected to be infected with the Zika virus after he was detected to have a temperature of 37.6 degrees Celcius through the infrared radiation thermometer. 

The patient confirmed that he has been suffering from fever, headaches, sore throat, and skin rash since September 5, according to a statement issued by the Henan Health and Family Planning Commission. However, he denied being bitten by a mosquito over the past two weeks and also ruled out other potential transmission channels including sex, blood transfusions, and contact with a person infected with Zika.

The patient was sent to a hospital that specializes in infectious disease and was placed in quarantine. His condition is said to be stable.

Meanwhile, other passengers from the same flight showed no possible Zika symptoms.

His case was confirmed on Monday by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency of the Ministry of Health, after his urine and saliva test results tested positive for the Zika virus.

This is the 23rd Zika case confirmed in China, according to an official from the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of Henan.

TagsZika virus, Zika, Henan Province, china