So, the agency is now urging doctors to test pregnant women with travel history to Zika-affected areas within 2-12 weeks after they return, even if they don’t have any symptoms.
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As for men and their nonpregnant sex partners, the CDC says they “might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms consistently and correctly during sex”.
Although this case confirms it’s possible to spread the Zika virus through sex, CDC officials say mosquito bites are the primary way the virus is transmitted.
Most people with the virus have no symptoms, or experience only mild symptoms like fever, headache and rash. Zika virus has presented particular concern for women who are or plan to become pregnant and their babies, but the virus has the potential to make others ill as well.
Also, Scott wants the CDC to conduct a conference call to help train Florida hospital workers about the virus.
“This needs to be further investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is…This is the only the second mooted case of sexual transmission”, World Health Organization spokesman Gregory Hartl told Reuters.
The announcement comes after the AP revealed that global health officials were frustrated at Brazil’s refusal to share enough viral samples and other information to answer the most worrying question about the outbreak: Whether the disease is truly causing a spike in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads.
Zika virus is carried by the same mosquito, Aedes aegypti, that transmits dengue.
“Spraying insecticide is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the United Kingdom”, the British public health minister Jane Ellison said in a statement.
CDC chief Frieden said the suspected link appears “stronger and stronger” as researchers study whether there is a causal connection. “Based on what we know now, CDC is issuing interim recommendations to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus”.
The virus departs the blood within a week leaving antibodies to the virus.
An infectious disease researcher at Vanderbilt University, William Schaffner said, “The important thing is now to determine whether the virus in saliva and urine can transmit the virus to others”.
Officials in Rockland County have confirmed their first case of the Zika virus.
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A total of 51 cases have been reported in the USA, all but one from travel.
