MANILA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government reported Wednesday three new cases of Zika virus infection, bringing to 15 the total number of locally-transmitted Zika virus in the country this year.

Philippine Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said the three new cases involved three females from Iloilo City in central Philippines and Antipolo City, just outside Manila.

"We now have 15 confirmed cases of Zika virus out of 262 suspected Zika virus cases reported nationwide from January 1 to October 4," Ubial said.

The Department of Health had previously reported 12 cases, including a 22-year-old pregnant woman from Cebu in the central Philippines.

Ubial said the department continues to monitor Zika cases on a weekly basis. "There has been no report of congenital or central nervous system defects (so far)," she said.

She added that the fetus of a Zika-infected pregnant woman has so far remained without abnormality.

Zika virus is acquired through bites from infected Aedes aegypti mosquitos, the same type of mosquito that spreads dengue and chikungunya. Common symptoms include fever, skin rash, joint pains and conjunctivitis.

There is no available vaccine to prevent the mosquito-borne virus. But medial experts said the symptoms of Zika virus could be treated with common pain and fever medicine, rest and enough water intake.