US health authorities on Thursday described the first known case of Zika being transmitted during sex between gay men, suggesting yet another route for infection with the mosquito-borne virus.
The CDC said there is no longer any doubt that Zika can cause birth
defects, making it the first-known mosquito-borne virus with the ability
to cause such harm to a developing foetus. (AFP/Luis Robayo)
MIAMI: US health authorities on Thursday (Apr 14) described
the first known case of Zika being transmitted during sex between gay
men, suggesting yet another route for infection with the mosquito-borne
virus.
The case involved a man who travelled to Venezuela and infected his
male partner - who had not travelled - upon his return to Texas in
January.
The couple had been monogamous for more than 10 years, the
US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. Both men experienced
a fever, an itchy rash on their upper bodies and the eye infection
conjunctivitis, but no lasting complications.
At least five other cases of sexual transmission of Zika
have been described in scientific literature, but those have involved
males infecting females.
"Sexual transmission through both vaginal and anal sex is an
emerging mode of Zika virus infection that might contribute to more
illness than was anticipated when the outbreak was first recognised,"
said the CDC in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Earlier this week, the CDC said there is no longer any doubt
that Zika can cause birth defects, making it the first-known
mosquito-borne virus with the ability to cause such harm to a developing
fetus.
- AFP/de
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