Image copyright EPA Image caption The virus is common in Africa and Asia, but rarely seen in North America
Three people in Toronto have been diagnosed with a particularly rare form of disease caused by the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
City health officials said they now have three cases of suspected Zika, after receiving six “general alert notifications” earlier this year.
Two of those people had recently returned from their trips to Asia and the Americas.
Zika has been linked to birth defects and brain damage.
The most recent case was confirmed on 4 November.
That same day, the disease hit the UK. A travel company said it had cancelled trips to Brazil from London and Manchester, all due to travel from 10 to 30 November, saying that they were cancelling “due to Zika virus concerns”.
Although the latest travel advisories would likely be a factor in limiting visitor numbers to the UK, Canada has seen the greatest number of travel warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Two flights coming in from the affected countries are due to land in Toronto this week.
The health department has said it is actively investigating the possibility of a Zika outbreak in the city.
Zika, which can be transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, can lead to severe birth defects, and can become a leading cause of microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.
City officials are advising pregnant women who have travelled to affected countries to contact a doctor immediately.