Many Latin American countries that have been hardest hit by the Zika disease, such as Brazil, have mobilized in an all-out effort to eradicate it [Xinhua]
Just two days after US medical authorities reported the first sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus, new reports have emerged suggesting there is a possibility it could be carried from an infected person to a new human host via saliva and urine.
A Brazilian research team formed by the public health research institution Ossa Crud Foundation said it had discovered traces of the virus in the saliva and urine of infected patients who had already displayed symptoms of the disease.
Brazil is considered by some as ground zero in the battle against the disease.
What is the Zika virus?
But senior US health officials are calling for restraint following these reports and are urging people not jump to conclusions.
In the meantime, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to warn that the Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites.
But it now warns that sexually active people who may be pregnant should take precautions.
“Sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, and is of particular concern during pregnancy,” the CDC said in a Friday press release.
It cites three cases of infected males showing symptoms who transmitted the virus.
“Sexual transmission of Zika virus from infected women to their sex partners has not been reported,” it adds, however.
The CDC issued an interim guideline for prevention of sexual transmission of the dises.
It cautions that “men who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who are concerned about sexual transmission of Zika virus might consider abstaining from sexual activity or using condoms consistently and correctly during sex”.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
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