The Ministry of Health and Population on Sunday asserted that Egypt is free from Zika virus as the infection was reported in several countries around the world.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry said the virus is caused by mosquitoes. The mosquito species that spreads Zika, Aedes aegypti, has been expanding its range over the past few decades.

The Ministry said it is following the reports of the World Health Organization on the spread of the infection worldwide.

The virus was discovered in the forest - then a hub of scientific research in East Africa - in 1947 by accident by Ugandan, American and European scientists working on another viral disease, added the statement.

The virus has been linked to the devastating birth defect microcephaly, which prevents fetus' brains from developing properly. There is no vaccine or treatment, the statement said.

Zika cases have been confirmed in 23 countries and territories in the Americas and scientists are racing to develop a vaccine for the virus.

The Ministry said it is following up the spread of the virus in other world countries and assured citizens that Egypt is free of the infection.