Zika virus transmitted through sex comes up in US

A rare case of the Zika virus being transmitted through sex, not a mosquito bite, has been reported in the US. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told a patient infected in Dallas, Texas, is likely to have been infected by sexual contact. The person had not travelled to infected areas but their partner had returned from Venezuela. Zika is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains. It is spreading through the Americas and the World Health Organization has declared the virus a global public health emergency.

Meanwhile, Brazil - the country worst hit by the outbreak - has



revealed it is investigating 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly in babies linked to the Zika virus. The country's health Ministry said a total of 404 cases have so far been confirmed - up from 270 last week - while 709 cases have been discarded. The Ministry also said 76 infant deaths from microcephaly, either during pregnancy or just after birth, were suspected. 

Meanwhile, India has issued guidelines on Zika Virus Disease following epidemic in Brazil and in other South American countries. Health Ministry in a release yesterday said, a number of steps are being taken to prevent entry and transmission of virus in India.