State health officials said Thursday they are continuing to monitor for Zika virus and are alerting the public of the potential to contract Zika virus while traveling abroad.

Pregnant women in particular are advised to postpone travel to areas affected by Zika virus.

Locations where the virus has been reported include 22 countries in the Caribbean and South and Central America, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Cape Verde in Africa and Samoa in the Pacific.

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites, similar to West Nile virus or dengue fever.

While illness is usually mild, and severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon, there is a possible link between Zika virus infection in pregnant women and subsequent birth defects, the state Department of Public Health said in a news release.

“Until more is known, and out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing,” said Dr. Paul Pino, acting commissioner of the public health department. “Pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctor or other healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip.”

The state health department has asked Connecticut health care providers to report suspected cases of Zika virus infection.

There are currently no cases of the mosquito-borne disease in Connecticut.

Health officials said that no locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in the continental United States, but cases have been reported in returning travelers.

According to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the mosquito species that is primarily responsible for transmission of Zika virus to people is not found in Connecticut.

“Closely related species are present in very low numbers and are unlikely to present a risk of Zika virus infection to people in Connecticut,” said Dr. Phil Armstrong, medical entomologist with the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases at the experiment station.

The Centers for Disease Control has issued a travel notice advising people traveling to affected areas in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, or Mexico to protect themselves from mosquito bites to reduce their risk of infection with Zika virus.

For information, visit: www.ct.gov/dph/zika.