North Korea to carry out 'brisk campaign' against Zika virus

North Korea has strictly screened people and goods coming into the isolated country from the outside world in a "brisk campaign" over fears of the spread of the Zika virus, according to the North's state media on Tuesday.

A recent edition of the Pyongyang Times newspaper said, "The rapid spread of the Zika virus over the world arouses growing concern."

North Korea held a "national emergency meeting to take immediate measures to counter the virus," the article said, without specifying exactly when the meeting was held.

"A campaign is brisk to raise public awareness. Visitors from foreign countries and foreign products are strictly screened at airports, ports, railway stations and border areas," it said.

North Korea's health authorities also "advise the public to refrain from touring countries or regions where the virus is highly prevailing."

Previously, North Korea showed frantic measures against the outbreaks of deadly viruses in foreign countries. Pyongyang lifted a months-long ban on foreign travelers earlier last year due to the spread of the Ebola virus.

Last week, China confirmed its first case of the imported Zika virus amid growing fears over the fast-spreading illness that is blamed for birth defects such as incomplete brain development.

China is North Korea's key trading partner and tens of thousands of Chinese tourists are estimated to visit North Korea a year.

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus outbreak a global emergency.

Zika was first discovered in Africa, and has spread to parts of Asia and Latin America, including many Caribbean countries. It is related to yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever, with 1 in 5 infected showing signs of fever, rash and joint pain. (Yonhap)