Zika virus infection through sex reported in US According to recent reports, it is now believed that the Zika virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, in addition to mosquitoes. A patient infected in Dallas, Texas is believed to have been infected by sexual contact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) told reporters at BBC. The person who was diagnosed with Zika had not travelled to areas affected by the disease, but their partner had just returned from Venezuela. Zika, which is carried by mosquitoes, has been linked to many cases of babies being born with underdeveloped brains and unusually small heads. The disease has quickly been spreading through the Americas, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the virus a global public health emergency. Just how contagious the disease is is yet to be confirmed, but we do know that the American Red Cross has advised prospective blood donors returning from Mexico, the Caribbean or Central or South America to delay donating their blood for at least 28 days. So far, Brazil has been affected by the outbreak more than any other country. It is currently investigating 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly in babies linked to the virus. 404 of those cases have already been confirmed, and 709 of them have been discarded. If new reports are true, and Zika can be spread through sex, it will quickly become a risk to every countrynot just those with the Aedes mosquito. Authorities do note that Zika through sexual transmission is rare, but until recently, any case of Zika was uncommon. It is still unknown whether the disease can be spread by the 80% of people that show no symptoms of the virus, or just how long it could live in semen. It is also unclear whether the disease can be spread through men and women alike. Until more information is released, the CDC has recommended that the best way to avoid the infection is to prevent mosquito bites and to avoid exposure to semen from someone who has been exposed to Zika. Zika poses the biggest threat to pregnant women and women with a desire to become pregnant. For others, infections are short and mild. Please share this article with family and friends to help keep the community informed! 