A WOMAN who believes she contracted the zika virus while in Mexico has urged others not to be put off travelling.

Photographer Roselle Moss, 37, of Tortoiseshell Way, Braintree, believes she contracted the virus while on holiday in Cancun last month with her two sons Rowan, 13, Dylan, seven, and husband Ken, 77.

Despite using the maximum strength form of insect repellent, which contains DEET, a chemical that does not easily dissolve, Mrs Moss was bitten by mosquitoes 30 times.

Two weeks after returning home the mum-of-two began developing symptoms.

Mrs Moss said: “After almost 30 bites I distinctly remember thinking, ‘With this amount of bites I can’t not get the zika virus’.

“The virus was spoken about between my husband and I before we left but we knew that it was only dangerous to pregnant women and we wouldn’t let a silly virus stop us from going somewhere like Mexico.

“I first started noticing something strange last Tuesday, I was finding it hard to make a fist and grip things.

“My body was starting to become achy and I was scratching a lot.

“I had a rash on my back and legs.

“I thought maybe I was coming down with flu as I had come down with a chesty cough. Sunday night was the worst. I came down with a fever and could hardly move. I also had bloodshot eyes.”

Mrs Moss stayed up until 3am researching her symptoms and believed she has all the signs of the zika virus.

Mrs Moss’ diagnosis has not been confirmed after a computer problem at her GP meant she could not be booked in for tests.

She said: “I told her I knew what I had and she didn’t say otherwise. She says it’s definitely a virus and was rather laid back about the whole thing. I was clearly in pain.

“She sent me on my way telling me to take some ibuprofen and Co-codamol, as of course there is no cure.

“Somebody on my Facebook page saw my post and says she is now worried about going to Mexico but I told her to take lots of max strength Jungle Formula and the chances of contracting the virus is low.

“Apparently this will be out of my system within a week, so I am just resting.”

According to the NHS, experts predict the zika virus will spread to all countries in America, with the exception of Chile and Canada.

For most people it is a minor infection but evidence suggests it can cause birth defects if caught by a pregnant woman.

For details visit nhs.uk/conditions/zika-virus.