A Case of Sexually-Transmitted Zika Virus Has Been Reported in Dallas

The Zika virus outbreak continues to spread, with at least 28 countries/territories identified as having current outbreaks of the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was one of three confirmed cases in Florida at the time; the other two were in Miami-Dade County.

In other words: In order for the Zika virus to spread to the local Aedes albopictus population, someone would have to travel to a country where the Zika virus has been reported, be bit by an infected mosquito, return back to IL and then be bit by a local mosquito that can then carry the virus.

“What we have picked up is a surge in cases of microcephaly in two areas where Zika virus has broken out”.

Both individuals have a history of travel to a Zika affected country, Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed.

Officials say laboratory tests have confirmed a fourth case Zika virus in Spain.

Jaques Wagner, the chief of staff for Brazil president Dilma Rousseff, said Monday there was no risk to athletes unless “they are pregnant women”. But the Zika virus has recently been linked with a spiraling rise in reported cases of microcephaly – a rare birth defect causes babies to be born with unusually small heads and can lead to lasting developmental problems.

Zika is prompting worldwide concern because of an alarming connection to a neurological birth disorder and the rapid spread of the virus across the globe. The epidemiological investigation to determine if it was a sexually transmitted case was conducted by Dallas County officials.

Officials also said that mosquitos carrying the virus had been detected at Sydney International Airport, but stressed that it was unlikely the virus would establish local transmission given the lack of large numbers of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitos.

Alaka Basu, a senior fellow for public health at the UN Foundation, told the BBC: “This significance is parallel with the HIV/Aids case”. It also said other visitors should use insect repellent and take other precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

It is also the first-ever case in country where the disease was transmitted through sexual contact.

Zika is spread by certain types of mosquitoes, and possibly by sexual activity.

It is not actually known how long the virus remains in the semen of a man who has recovered from Zika.

The Zika virus is another problem for Rio organizers, who have been forced to cut about $500 million to keep the $2 billion operating budget in balance with Brazil going through its deepest recession since the 1930s.

“We are extremely anxious that (the outbreak) might cause increasing unsafe abortions”, said Rebecca Gomperts, founder and director of Women on Web.

Americans should know that while an explosive epidemic here is highly unlikely, Zika, like West Nile virus, could become a fact of life in this country. The University of South Australia said it was working on a Zika vaccine with Australian biotech Sementis Ltd.

Travel-related cases are defined as disease believed to be contracted outside of the state.