To put that into comparison, there have been 1,305 travel-related cases of Zika in the mainland United States and no known cases where Zika has been transmitted via a mosquito bite.
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Federal preparedness funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paid for the 2,500 kits, which cost about $15 apiece to assemble, according to the health department.
The CDC will also offer to males who have contracted Zika to study their infected semen.
The Zika virus causes only a mild illness, at worst, in most people. The New York woman was not pregnant, reports Washington Post.
The vast majority of Zika infections have occurred in Latin America, with Brazil the hot zone with an estimated 7,000 cases of microcephaly.
“Since it is summer travel season, we want to remind San Franciscans who are planning to travel to countries where Zika virus is circulating to protect themselves from mosquito bites”, Dr. Tomas Aragon, San Francisco’s Health Officer, said in a statement.
When her male partner developed symptoms seven days later and sought treatment from the same caregiver, he, too, was diagnosed with Zika.
The day the woman returned to New York City, she had sex with her male partner without using a condom. Two days later, he went to the same doctor. “Ongoing surveillance is needed to determine the risk for transmission of Zika virus infection from a female to her sexual partners”, the report said. Both tested positive for the virus. Pregnant women also should be tested upon return to the United States. Health official say she may have spread the virus through vaginal fluid or menstrual blood.
The New York woman was not pregnant. The woman also started her period that day, and she reported it was heavier than usual.
“Our analysis suggests that Zika spread is not containable, but that the epidemic will burn itself out within 2-3 years”, said lead author Neil Ferguson, Professor at Imperial College London.
Zika virus can be spread by a man to his sex partners.
There is now no vaccine available to prevent the infection, health officials said.
Other research has hinted at the possibility of females spreading the virus through sex.
Some experts said the case isn’t surprising.
Then, she visited her primary care provider who obtained blood and urine specimens, in which the Zika virus was detected.
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In the NY case, two conditions also existed that increased the likelihood of sexual transmission. The couple is now included in the 309 cases of Zika reported in New York City, all associated with travel.
