But in the end, the CDC says “mosquito bites remain the primary way that Zika virus is transmitted”.
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In the Dallas case, a person contracted Zika virus after having sex with a man who had recently returned from Venezuela, and had symptoms of the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released interim recommendations to avoid sexually transmitting the Zika virus.
The Zika Virus is most commonly associated with Latin America and the Caribbean, because that’s where the outbreak is the worst. Anyone who travels to countries where these diseases exist should take standard precautions against mosquito bites, such as using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, and staying in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
It also issued new guidelines for both pregnant women and women of reproductive age who live in affected areas.
Spain yesterday confirmed that a pregnant woman was diagnosed with the Zika virus – the first such case in Europe. Pregnant women experiencing symptoms should be immediately tested, and those not, are recommended to when they begin prenatal care.
Researchers also are investigating a possible link – in adults – between Zika infection and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a condition involving numbness and temporary paralysis.
Pour outlined the signs and symptom of the Zika Virus, saying they include high fever, a rash and muscle pain.
What is microcephaly and what does it have to do with Zika virus?
CDC Director Tom Frieden told reporters that they needed “more information” about reports that traces of the virus were detected in saliva and urine of unwell patients. They say if you are traveling to those South American countries, to wear clothing that covers your entire body and be wary of bodily fluids.
Much about the virus, including whether it can be transmitted from person to person, remains unclear.
Commenting on the transmission of the Zika virus, several health officials said that the virus could be present in non-transmissible form or in such low amounts that could make transmission unlikely.
“I wish we knew more about Zika today”.
It’s still not 100 percent certain that Zika does cause microcephaly, Frieden said. As we are learning more about it -we are also finding out that it can be transmitted during intercourse.
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Although symptoms are mild and pose little threat to the general population, babies born to infected women often suffer from impaired brain development that creates smaller-than-normal head size.
