could take years learn long men infect zika capable sexually transmit virus cause cripple birth defect serious neurological disorder meantime health officials warn couple refrain unprotected sex six months male partner infect extraordinary recommendation base single report zika survive 62 days semen could affect millions grave risk associate zika along potential reach drive u.s. health authorities pursue research even though fund mire congressional gridlock study sexual transmission risk one example science health officials say wait politics borrow money earmark program u.s. national institute allergy infectious diseases start enrol men infect zika brazil colombia study determine long virus remain transmittable semen study could take years complete interim result could help public health officials fine-tune recommendations sex go limb dr. anthony fauci director u.s. institute say interview say go wait get money public health officials alarm zika transmission versatility potential expand reach primarily spread aedes aegypti mosquitoes dengue chikungunya viruses least 10 countries include unite state france report zika infections people travel outbreak area whose sexual partner ability spread sex could help zika gain foothold outside warm habitats effective agent mosquito protect women pregnant try conceive u.s. center disease control prevention recommend couple refrain unprotected sex six months triple 62 days virus survive semen one british case study world health organization recently issue similar guidance strict advice ideal dr. anne schuchat cdc deputy director say interview tell people sex get back satisfy recommendation say would like understand sexual risk u.s. territory puerto rico 2,100 case infection report since start year health officials pass zika protection kit include bug spray condoms along recommendation warn unprotected sex go well say dr. chris prue cdc behavioral scientist study response condoms popular lot place say religious personal preferences lot personal factor that u.s. lawmakers deadlocked fund fight zika virus tuesday senate democrats block republican proposal say fell short challenge pose virus hurt health priorities unclear congress would revisit request president barack obama 1.9 billion meantime white house divert 500 million earmark project urgent zika initiatives include scientific opportunities lose act upon immediately one study follow children bear women infect zika identify development disabilities detect birth project priority list include vaccine development mosquito eradication one study underway assess whether risk transmission great men experience zika infection symptoms fever rash information consider vital since people experience symptoms study infect men brazil colombia test semen thousands men time determine long zika pose risk sexual partner long virus grow laboratory semen cell sample infectious disease experts believe potentially contagious zika typically clear bloodstream week infection detect urine least twice long persistence semen british case study cause researchers draw comparisons viruses hiv last blood semen indefinitely mosquito-borne west nile virus reside kidneys urine years researchers say one patient survive deadly ebola outbreak evidence virus semen 18 months get surprise ebola hang around long say dr. peter hotez dean national school tropical medicine baylor college medicine one big question ask zika also cause similar type latency zika sex research begin despite u.s. congress fund impasse