Zika Virus Spreads in Texas Through Sex

Florida Governor Rick Scott expanded a public health emergency over the Zika virus yesterday, adding a fifth county to the list of areas in the state with travel-related cases.

The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains.

On Monday, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency about the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control warned this week that in addition to mosquito transmission in affected areas, patients can contract the virus through sex. Questions remain about how widely the virus has spread; Brazilian officials have estimated the number of cases at around 1 million.

Zika is transmitted from infected mosquitoes to people, from infected pregnant mothers to babies and possibly through sexual activity. Health experts recommend that people planning to travel in tropical regions where the disease has been spreading take the usual, common-sense precautions against mosquito bites – and now, sexually-transmitted diseases as well.

WA chief health officer Professor Tarun Weeramanthri said there was no risk to West Australians who had not travelled to Zika-affected countries in recent months. There are no confirmed cases of the Zika virus in Iowa. With respect to that, they have updated their Guide for Zika Virus for pregnant women. The DCHHS said it received confirmation of the infection from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday.

None of the cases in Florida have involved pregnant women, officials said. “We are actively monitoring the situation and working very closely with the CDC and local health departments to protect New Yorkers from Zika virus”.