Transmission of Zika through 'Sexual Contact'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reports that in 14 new cases of Zika in the U.S., sexual contact is likely the mode of transmission. Zika is a dangerous disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although it does not lead to the death of the patient, it causes birth defects such as microcephaly and other brain-related issues in pregnant women. According to Reuters, in two of the new Zika cases in the U.S., the only connection between the two infected women was sexual contact with men who had traveled to areas affected by the virus. Evidence suggests that while the infected mosquito bite remains the primary cause of Zika infection, sexual contact is more significant in the transmission and spread of the virus than previously thought. The CDC has stated that it is still unclear whether women can transmit the Zika virus to their sexual partners. There is still much unknown about Zika, its transmission, and its effects. Although the birth of babies with small heads, known as microcephaly, is linked to Zika, this connection has not yet been definitively proven. Following the spread of this virus in Central and South America, where the highest number of cases have been reported, emergency status has been declared in these countries. Brazil recently released statistics indicating that 583 cases of microcephaly have been recorded in the country, showing an increase of eighty cases in just one week. The number of Zika cases in Brazil has also risen by more than a hundred in just one week. The World Health Organization predicts that next year, three to four million people in South America alone will be infected with the virus. So far, cases of Zika have been observed in over 30 countries.