The head of a top Brazilian health research institute says its scientists have discovered the presence of active Zika virus in urine and saliva samples.
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Fiocruz made the discovery after analysing samples from two patients and carrying out a partial genome sequencing of the virus, Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, as Fiocruz is formally known, told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.
New Zealand’s Olympic athletes and officials have been warned of the risk associated with the Zika virus on Friday, including the possibility that it could be sexually transmitted.
Brazil plunged into Carnival season on Friday – a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at massive street parties.
The latest controversy weighing on the Rio Olympics – not to mention the rest of Brazil – is the spread of the Zika virus, which was declared a public health emergency earlier this week.
The mosquito-borne virus has spread to at least 29 countries.
Sales have risen even more sharply since Brazilian authorities in November flagged a potential link between Zika and suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size in newborns that can result in developmental problems.
Genetic tests and clinical symptoms have enabled scientists to partially track Zika, and Brazil guesses up to 1.5 million people have been infected in the country.
Colombian health officials say three people there have died of the Guillain-Barre syndrome after contracting the Zika virus.
“An increase in demand for services this summer would not surprise us as news of Zika virus escalates”, said Ron Harrison, entomologist at extermination company Orkin, owned by Rollins Inc (LSE: 0M50.L – news).
“For decades, we have been advocating for improvements in sanitation as the number one priority for public investments here, while the government has insisted on flashier interventions that do not save money on healthcare costs down the line”, he said.
Meanwhile in Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the OHCHR was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin and South America to repeal any policies that break with worldwide standards and restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion.
“How can they… not offer (women)… the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?” she said.
Pouilly said that about a quarter of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in El Salvador in the past year. “It would be foolish to me to say that’s not going to change but I don’t see any reason at the moment why it would”.
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Spokesman Farhan Haq says Ban Ki-moon believes that “women must have a meaningful way of controlling their own decisions on whether and when and how to be pregnant”.
