In addition to its transmission through the bites of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, the Zika virus is also present in saliva, urine and semen, according to the Fiocruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). If the Zika virus has been detected in saliva and urine, it is too early to say that the disease can be transmitted through these bodily fluids. “This does not mean that there is transmission capability through these channels.” indeed declared doctor Paulo Gadelha, director of the Fiocruz institute. He nevertheless recommended to the pregnant womento adopt precautionary measures and avoid “to kiss and share cutlery” of a person potentially infected or returning from a country at high risk of contamination. The Zika virus is especially dangerous for the fetuses, in whom it can cause microcephaly (abnormally small cranial box).
Abstinence and condoms
The doubts are less for the transmission of the virus by the semen, since two cases of sexual infection have been reported in the United States. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has so far only reported a “theoretical risk” of sexual transmission of the Zika virus, for lack of sufficient evidence and hindsight. However, the CDC recommends the use of condomsor the use of abstinence for people returning from infected countries, particularly for pregnant women or women of childbearing age.
At present, the Zika virus affects 25 countries or territories in Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean. Brazil already has 1.5 million patients and 404 cases of microcephaly. 3,670 suspected cases are still being analyzed, according to the World Health Organization.
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