United States advises abstinence, condom use to prevent Zika spread

Men with a pregnant sex partner who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission should consistently and correctly use condoms during sexual activity or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy.

WA Health chief health officer Tarun Weeramanthri said that there was no risk to Western Australians who had not recently travelled to a Zika-affected country.

“Pregnant women should consider avoiding travel to countries with the Zika virus – or if travel is unavoidable, they ought to seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip”.

Zika is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus, which is transmitted to people by certain species of mosquito.

The CDC said that pregnant women can be tested for the virus for two to 12 weeks after they return from area with an outbreak.

“People who have contact with pregnant women and show symptoms of zika have additional responsibility”, Gadelha said.

Although the Zika virus stays in a person’s blood for only up to a week after the individual is infected, it’s unknown how long the virus could stay in a man’s semen.

The Department of Public Health is warning residents that the Zika virus, which has been tied to birth defects in South America, has the potential to reach Guam.

“So much of it right now is unknown and beyond our control, that we’re all kind of in it together, going through for it”, Garcia said.

Health experts have warned that a vaccine could take up to 10 years to develop and there is now no treatment available.

This update follows a raft of measures implemented in the last fortnight to ramp up Singapore’s preparation against the Zika virus.

Many have been born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, and the United Nations has urged increased access to abortion because of fears of severe birth defects. Providers should contact their state health department to facilitate testing.

The CDC describes the Aedes mosquito as aggressive, attacking at all hours, and one that can bite five or more people in a single feeding, leaving only a tiny sting that victims barely notice.