It was only Monday that the burst forth Zika outbreak was declared a global public wellness emergency by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , and now reports have turn up of a uncommon subject of sexual infection of the virus in Texas . While there have been other cases in the res publica , this marks the first metre that an infection has been contracted on mainland U.S. , and only the 2d document case of sexual transmission system , the Guardian report .
According tothe BBC , the individual had not journey to any Zika areas but became septic after their partner returned from a trip to Venezuela , a country criminate ofvastly underestimatingcases of infection . As a make love mosquito - stand disease , it ’s likely that the partner became infected after being bitten and then snuff it on the computer virus through unprotected sexual urge .
After developing grippe - corresponding symptoms , the individual sought medical advice and , upon learning the partner ’s travel account , was sent for diagnostic examination . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) then confirmed that the patient role was indeed infected with Zika . Prior to this , there had only beenone potential caseof sexual infection report , although the virus had also beenfound in the semenof one other septic man .
Since Zika is preponderantly spread by theAedes aegyptimosquito , which also channel dengue , yellow fever , and chikungunya , as a precautionary measure officialsscreened the insectsaround the touch couple ’s domicile but did not find this especial coinage .
If Zika is ultimately confirmed to be a sexually transmitted disease , then this could intend that the position is worse than previously thought . While an international public wellness issuance , it was at least limited to countries in which theAedes aegyptimosquito is found . Although traveller can obviously bring the virus to other countries , it was retrieve improbable to spread further in the absence of these vectors .
The CDC has yet to issue further advice on avoiding sexual transmission , but condoms are an efficient way to keep the spread of any sexually transmitted infection . In addition , citizenry in affected arena should forefend mosquito bites by using insect revolting , wearing long wear where potential , and sleeping under bed profit .
It ’s important to note that while this does potentially suggest that Zika could spread faster and further than previously think , for the vast majority of citizenry contagion are exceedingly mild and symptomless . Although there have been documented cases of a rarefied neurological condition being colligate with infection , Guillain - Barré syndrome , the major concern is for those who are pregnant . Infection is powerfully associate with a parentage mar called microcephaly , in which sister are tolerate with abnormally small heads , so pregnant women are advised against travel to infected areas .
