In Brazil, pregnant women urged to be cautious with a kiss

He also stressed that the Aedes aegpyti mosquito, which spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever as well as Zika, remains the virus’ main vector and said the fight against the mosquito should be a top priority. There is a also a suspected USA case of sexual transmission of the virus. The virus has been reported in the United States from people who have traveled overseas, and there’s been one reported case in the nation of the virus being spread sexually.

A Rockland woman who recently traveled to South America has been diagnosed with the Zika virus, officials said Friday.

Although symptoms are mild and pose little threat to the general population, babies born to infected women often suffer from impaired brain development that creates smaller-than-normal head size. “Presence of virus in saliva doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily transmissible that way”.

There have now been 11 cases of Zika virus infection among NY residents.

The diagnosis comes after the World Health Organization declared the Zika outbreak a global public health emergency.

The CDC said the link between Zika virus and severe birth defects is growing stronger by the day. Pregnant women should discuss their male partner’s potential exposures to mosquitoes and history of Zika-like illness (http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms) with their health care provider; providers can consult CDC’s guidelines for evaluation and testing of pregnant women.

“That fact that the virus was found with the capacity to cause infection is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids”, said Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery.

Asked by a reporter for more specifics on when such cases could be anticipated, Frieden said it depends on many factors, including how much Zika was present in an area and how likely it is that a Zika infection may result in a birth defect.

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. health officials issued guidelines Friday to prevent the sexual transmission of the Zika virus, telling men who have been to outbreak areas to use condoms during sex with pregnant women. “Because how can they ask those women to become pregnant but also not offer them first information that is available, but the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?” Because there now is no vaccine or treatment for Zika virus, the best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites, according to the CDC.

Although sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, mosquito bites remain the primary way it is transmitted, the CDC said.

Dr. Garcia said her practice is developing a screening questionnaire to assess each patient’s risk for Zika virus based on her travel history.