Three people have died in Venezuela from complications linked to Zika, President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday - the first fatalities reported in the country in connection with the mosquito-borne virus.

Three people have died in Venezuela from complications linked to Zika, President Nicolas Maduro said Thursday - the first fatalities reported in the country in connection with the mosquito-borne virus.

Speaking on national television, Maduro said there were 319 confirmed cases of the virus in the South American country, adding: "Unfortunately we have had three deaths from Zika nationwide."

Maduro said 68 patients with complications "have been in intensive care," adding that the country had the necessary drugs to treat them.

Without providing any details, he said that 5,221 suspected cases of Zika had been reported from November 5 until February 8.

Maduro thanked the governments and embassies of India, Cuba, China, Iran and Brazil for their support in providing medication and "much more."

Brazil has been most affected by the outbreak, with 1.5 million people infected since early 2015.

The World Health Organization has declared the rise in Zika-linked birth defects an international emergency.