An Otago man is one of nine travellers who arrived in New Zealand from the South Pacific this month infected with the Zika virus.
The country the 49-year-old visited is listed as "not recorded'' in Ministry of Health information released yesterday.
He returned to New Zealand on January 14.
Of the nine people who arrived with the virus this month, one, a 47-year-old man, has been admitted to Waikato Hospital with symptoms indicative of Guillain-Barre, a condition that can cause paralysis but from which most patients recover fully.
The man is in a stable condition.
The other eight people have all recovered.
Four travellers visited Tonga, and four visited Samoa.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Health extended its Pacific travel advice to include Tonga, as well as Samoa, as an area of active transmission.
Pregnant women, or those planning to be pregnant, were advised to consider avoiding travelling to affected areas.
More information is available on the ministry's website at: www.health.govt.nz
In Brazil, the virus has been linked to a foetal microcephaly, causing an undersized skull and underdeveloped brain.
Traditionally considered a mild illness, there are new concerns because of the link to birth defects, and its proliferation.
Four of the nine travellers were female.
Two had no potential for pregnancy; the other two were having pregnancy tests.
There were six Zika notifications in 2015, but in the previous year there were 57.
The first New Zealand case was in 2002.
Ministry of Health chief executive Dr Don Mackie said the health authority would provide regular advice to incoming travellers, health professionals, and the public.
"There remains robust mosquito surveillance and monitoring at our borders.''
Messages advising travellers on what to do if they got sick within a month of returning to New Zealand were displayed at all international airports in New Zealand, and were available on a health advice card.
Dr Mackie welcomed the recent World Health Organisation announcement it would assess whether the outbreak constituted a public health emergency of international concern.
"The WHO's international co-ordination of information and advice is useful to us and to our Pacific partners.
"If travelling in Zika-infected areas, women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should consult with their healthcare provider.''
