Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it was important to determine whether the virus survived in semen longer than it does in the blood, from which it usually disappears after a week or two as the victim recovers. She said they should consider postponing travel to Zika-affected areas, and if they reside in areas impacted by the virus, they should seek advise from a physician and always wear mosquito repellant.
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“Despite the confirmation of these cases, this is not a health risk for the population, since continental Chile does not have the mosquito that transmits the disease”, acting Health Minister Gisela Alarcon told reporters on Tuesday.
The illness brings with it a rash, fever and joint pain.
U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, on Tuesday called for a congressional briefing from public health officials about the virus.
Special care to avoid mosquito bites should be taken and any symptoms should be reported for up to 14 days after return.
Officials in Texas have reported a rare case of the Zika virus being spread through sexual contact rather than a mosquito bite. “Next to abstinence, condoms are the best prevention method against any sexually-transmitted infections”. Researchers believe that a spike in cases of microcephaly, or babies born with small heads, has been caused by the virus.
However, the Texas Department of State Health Services is not saying that sexual transmission was certain, stating: “Case details are being evaluated, but the possibility of sexual transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person is likely in this case”.
The Philippine authorities are doing the same and, like Japan, the Philippines has advised women who are pregnant or planning to conceive to avoid countries on the Zika watchlist.
Two cases of the condition linked to the birth of babies with shrunken heads have been confirmed in Ireland, health chiefs have said.
Officials say laboratory tests have confirmed a fourth case Zika virus in Spain. The virus has been reported in more than 30 countries.
Sanofi has launched a project to develop a vaccine against Zika, the most decisive commitment yet by a major vaccine producer to fight the disease.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Zika to be an worldwide public health emergency on Monday.
