An inter-ministerial Zika preparedness working group was being set up in Malta, Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne announced yesterday.

He said in a tweet that the Opposition would also be taking part. The working group will be chaired by the Chief Medical Officer.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the mosquito-borne Zika virus is “spreading explosively” and may infect up to four million people. The chances of it reaching Malta are low, according to experts.

The virus is spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes species, a genus of mosquitoes found all over the world except Antarctica. Originally limited to tropical and subtropical zones, the species has spread as a result of human activity.

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