The guidance also suggests the men might consider abstaining or using condoms even with a partner who isn’t pregnant.
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Although sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, mosquito bites remain the primary way it is transmitted, the CDC said. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection, but the scientists stressed that it was too early to say whether Zika could be transmitted by either fluid.
The warning comes because health officials are concerned about a strong link between Zika virus infection during pregnancy and a birth defect called microcephaly, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and face lifelong cognitive impairments. All travelers are advised to use insect repellent and take other steps to avoid mosquito bites.
The updated guidelines recommend that pregnant women without symptoms of Zika virus disease can be offered testing 2 to 12 weeks after returning from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission.
Ruppert said the mosquito that transmits the virus is not found here.
In another development, Spain said a woman who recently returned from Colombia is the first pregnant European diagnosed with the virus.
With a recent discovery that the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact also, the UNFPA’s role has increased as an agency working on sexual and reproductive health sector, it maintained.
The CDC said it has yet to see data from the Brazilian research, and more work is needed before recommendations can be made based on the findings.
The discovery opens “new paradigms for understanding the transmission routes of the Zika virus”, she said.
Over in Florida, five counties are now under a health emergency.
The Indonesian Health Ministry issued a statement advising the public, especially pregnant women, against travelling to eight countries where the mosquito-borne Zika virus has reached epidemic levels.
Health officials believe all of the cases are from people who contracted the disease while traveling to affected countries.
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There is no vaccine or cure for Zika virus, with symptoms usually resolving within a week. Male-to-male sexual activity was not included in the guidelines because the focus now is on preventing birth defects, Frieden said.
