The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating at least 14 potential cases of Zika virus that were sexually transmitted, the agency said Tuesday.
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“Because of the possible association between Zika virus infections in pregnant women and certain birth defects, CDC recommends that pregnant women consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing”, ODH’s website states.
In all, the United States has around 90 cases of Zika, which is believed to cause birth defects and a rare condition of temporary paralysis, according to the most recent count from the CDC.
All of the cases involve men who traveled to areas where Zika is circulating and had symptoms of the virus within two weeks before their female partner’s symptoms began.
In February, the CDC confirmed the virus had been transmitted to the sexual partner of an individual in Texas who had traveled to a Zika infected area – a first for this outbreak but not a first in and of itself. In 2008 a USA researcher was infected in Africa and infected his wife back in Colorado.
The CDC just released some worrisome news about the ability for the untreatable Zika virus to be passed through sex. Currently, there is no evidence that women can transmit Zika virus to their sex partners, but more research needs to be done.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health said 29 Zika cases were reported in the state – the newest case in Seminole County. The CDC says people should stop having sex (that ain’t gonna happen) or to use condoms (something you should do with new partners anyways), especially if you’ve travelled to places in South/Central America, especially Brazil (how was Carnaval?). Providers should consult CDC’s guidelines for evaluation and testing of pregnant women.
The Zika epidemic is a real-life science experiment.
Zika is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes and usually doesn’t cause serious symptoms.
Zika virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners.
“We’ll do so cooperating on vaccine development, and in collecting data and information that can help identify the precise link between the Zika virus and microcephaly“. “The mosquito is the most unsafe animal on the planet”, said Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University, past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
The Zika virus is normally spread by mosquitoes, but sexual transmission is also possible.
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“That’s really scary because I have gone on vacation and gotten mosquito bites and you have to be careful, and you don’t want to bring it back”, said Caroline Barada, Loyola University student.
