The World Health Organization (WHO) has published guidance for pregnant women concerned about the Zika virus.

Amid fears the mosquito-borne infection can cause foetal abnormalities, the agency issued advice on a number of areas – including facts on prevention and how the illness is transmitted to others.

The main advice included:

There is no evidence to suggest Zika is transmitted to babies through breastfeeding

Early ultrasound cannot accurately predict the presence of microcephaly – which can cause abnormally small heads in infants. However, WHO stressed there is only a “possible association” between this rare condition and Zika

More evidence is needed to determine whether sex transmits the Zika virus, but all men and women in affected South American countries should “correctly and consistently” use condoms to prevent infection

Though no travel restrictions are being implemented, women “must determine the level of risk they wish to take” to Zika-hit nations

Women who want to end their pregnancy over concerns of microcephaly “should have access to safe abortion services to the full extent of the law”.

Several countries have confirmed they are dealing with new cases of the Zika virus.

Two people in Finland have tested positive for the infection – one of them a man who had returned from the Maldives in June.

China’s first case of the Zika virus has been found in a 34-year-old man who had recently travelled to Venezuela, but he is said to be making a speedy recovery.

And in Australia, a pregnant woman has tested positive for the Zika virus.

Although the government there has refused to provide details on where she had travelled, officials have stressed she was not infected locally.