US Disease Control Centre studying link between sex and Zika

Several pregnant women might be at risk of having contracted the virus, raising new questions about the role sexual transmission is playing in the growing outbreak. 

In two of the suspected cases, the infection has been confirmed in women whose only known risk factor was sexual contact with an infected male partner who had recently travelled to an area with active Zika transmission through mosquito bites, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDS) said on Tuesday. 

Most experts had believed that sexual transmission of Zika was rare, but the new alert suggests sexual transmission of Zika may be more of a factor than previously thought. “We think mosquito-borne spread is the most common route of transmission, but we want to make people aware that sexual transmission is also a risk,” Jennifer McQuiston, deputy incident manager for CDC’s Zika response, said. All of the newly reported cases of sexual transmission have occurred within the United States.

The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States was reported in Texas in early February by local health officials, who said it likely was contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite. 

Brushing aside any concerns over the forthcoming Olympics to be hosted by Brazil, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan said on Tuesday Brazil is doing a good job tackling the Zika virus and ensuring that the Olympic games it will host in August will be safe for athletes and visitors. 

Chan said Brazil’s government is doing all it can to mobilize Brazilian society in fighting the “formidable” Aedes mosquito that transmits the virus that has spread rapidly through the Americas since last year. 

“I want to reassure you that the government is working very closely with the international Olympic movement, with the local organizing committee, supported by the WHO, to make sure we have a very good work plan to target the mosquito, and to make sure that people who will come here either as visitors or athletes will get the maximum protection they need,” Chan said.