MANILA - Two new cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday.

The two cases are in Makati and Mandaluyong, according to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.

The Mandaluyong case is a non-child bearing 27-year-old female while the Makati case is a 42-year-old male, according to an ANC report.

JUST IN: DOH confirms 16th and 17th cases of Zika virus. New cases found in Mandaluyong and Makati. pic.twitter.com/WKTv8DhShW — kori quintos (@koriquintos) Oktubre 14, 2016

The two new cases bring the total of confirmed Zika virus cases this year to 17, according to the health department.

Of this number, 12 are in Iloilo, one in Muntinlupa, one in Cebu and one in Antipolo.

Zika, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is usually not life-threatening but has been linked to a rise in birth defects in other countries, where hundreds of babies have been born with unusually small heads in recent years.

The DOH has advised citizens who are experiencing Zika symptoms -- skin rashes, fever, red eyes, and headache -- to immediately consult doctors.

-- With reports from Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News