Contents:
- Medical Video: What You Need to Know About Zika Virus | Pregnancy and Sexual Transmission
- Zika virus can be transmitted through sex
- How to prevent transmission of the Zika virus?
Medical Video: What You Need to Know About Zika Virus | Pregnancy and Sexual Transmission
The case of the Zika virus has appeared everywhere but not much is known about it. Most people try to prevent transmission of Zika by protecting themselves from mosquito bites. But did you know that Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact?
Zika virus can be transmitted through sex
The first case that proved that Zika could be transmitted through sex was in July 2016 in New York City. At that time, US health authorities reported that a woman transmitted the Zika virus to a man through unprotected sex. Before that, experts have only found cases where men transmit this virus to their partners through sex, as well as transmission from mosquito bites.
"Reports of sexual transmission of Zika virus infection from women to men in New York City are the first documented cases of Zika sexual transmission from women to sex partners. "This adds new information about Zika's sexual transmission," the CDC said.
The first outbreak caused by Zika infection was recently reported from Yap island in 2007. At present, there are several countries that have experienced outbreaks of the Zika virus.
Increased transmission of the Zika virus has been accompanied by an increase in microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Zika was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys, and was later identified in humans in 1952.
How to prevent transmission of the Zika virus?
If a pregnant woman is exposed to the Zika virus, this can cause birth defects, including brain and skull abnormalities called microcephaly.
The latest discovery of Zika's transmission through sex, makes the advice for self-protection for pregnant women even wider. In addition to protecting themselves from mosquito bites, now men and women who want to reduce the risk of Zika virus transmission sexually must use the protection method during sex, namely by using a condom. Of course the most effective way is to be loyal to one partner, and avoid sex altogether when traveling to an area with active transmission of the Zika virus.
Health authorities urge pregnant women to avoid sex, or only have sex using a condom, if their husband has traveled to or lives in an area where there is a Zika virus.
This advice is not only to protect pregnant women or women who are trying to get pregnant, but also to slow the transmission of Zika from infected tourists to other communities.
To protect yourself from the Zika virus, there are a number of things to do:
- All pregnant women with their sex partners who live in or travel to the area with Zika must use a condom during sex, or fasting for the rest of their pregnancy.
- Not having sex will eliminate the risk of contracting Zika from sex.
- Condoms can reduce the possibility of contracting Zika from sex.
- Condoms include male condoms and female condoms.
- Dental dam (latex sheet or polyurethane) can also be used for several types of oral sex (mouth to vagina or mouth to anus).
- To be effective, condoms must be used from the beginning to the end, at all times having vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and in the use of sex toys with other people.
- Not sharing sex toys can reduce the risk of Zika transmission to sex partners.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
