US Virgin Islands confirms 12 Zika cases, warns of increase

The U.S. Virgin Islands says it has 12 confirmed cases of Zika and another 79 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne virus.

Officials said Tuesday that the majority of cases have been reported on the island of St. Croix, followed by St. Thomas. Most of the patients are women, but none of them are pregnant.

The island's Department of Health said it expects the number of cases to increase.

U.S. authorities have urged people to avoid traveling to affected countries. Zika has become a concern because of potential ties to a rare birth defect called microcephaly.