The number of Canadians infected with the Zika virus has risen to nine, Health Minister Jane Philpott said Wednesday.

The minister said there have been no cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in Canada.  

 

"We can assume that they were most likely mosquito-borne, but they were all contracted [outside] the country, not local transmission," Philpott said.

The minister could not confirm whether the virus was or could be sexually transmitted.

One of the cases has been confirmed in Alberta, and another two in B.C. that were contracted in El Salvador and Columbia, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease control. 

Health officials in both provinces have said there is no risk to public health in the province.

Philpott stressed people should be cautious when travelling abroad. 

Brazil Zika Virus

Brazilian officials still say they believe there's a sharp increase in cases of microcephaly and strongly suspect the Zika virus, which first appeared in the country last year, is to blame. (Felipe Dana/Associated Press)

"We encourage people if they are pregnant or could become pregnant that they consider postponing their trip, and if they feel that it's necessary to go ahead with their trip that they take all precautions to avoid daytime mosquito bites," said Philpott.

According to the World Health Organization, vaccines to protect against Zika virus are at least 18 months away from large-scale trials.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus has been linked to microcephaly, a rare birth defect that sees babies born with unusually small heads and can cause lasting developmental problems.

The mosquitoes that carry and transmit the virus do not live in Canada, due to the climate, says Alberta Health, and human-to-human transmission is rare.

The World Health Organization has said that Canada and continental Chile are the only countries in the Americas where the Zika virus is unlikely to spread.

More than 3,100 pregnant Columbian women are now infected with the Zika virus.