CDC releases guidelines on preventing sexual transmission of Zika, testing pregnant women

Still, sexual transmission of Zika virus is thought to be rare; there are just three known reported cases of the virus spreading through sex. “Right now, one case is not enough to really justify saying that it’s a sexually transmitted disease”, said Gino Solla, Director of the Ector County Health Department.

“We have a female, a resident of Rockland County, who traveled to South America, and within a few days of returning here had symptoms of Zika virus presented to her provider who contacted us”, Ruppert said.

There have now been 11 cases of Zika virus infection among NY residents. It is now telling men who have been to areas with outbreaks of the Zika virus to consistently use condoms during sex with pregnant women.

The discovery adds to concern that Zika, which is predominantly spread by the Aedis aegypti mosquito, could also be transmitted by other means, particularly sex. Cases of Zika infection through blood transfusion were recently reported by health officials in Brazil.

Much about the virus, including whether it can be transmitted from person to person, remains unclear.

Thousands of babies have been born in Zika-affected regions with the birth defect microcephaly (although a causal relationship has not yet been scientifically established).

The woman, whot is not pregnant, is ill but expected to recover.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release new guidelines regarding the spread of Zika virus.

“We are quite literally discovering more about Zika each and every day”, Frieden said.

The scientists also said that further research was required to determine whether the virus would be transmissible through saliva and if yes, then to what extent can the transmission be expected.

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff said Thursday that the two countries are working together to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus, but warned it might take some time.

The CDC is warning pregnant women against travel to affected areas, and health officials in several of the affected countries are telling women there to avoid becoming pregnant.