How Is Zika Transmitted Through Sexual Intercourse?

Last year the health concerns surrounding the Zika virus where no stranger to daily news reports. With the 2016 Olympics taking place in Brazil and the spread of the virus into the southern United States, the threat of contracting the virus, especially if you were pregnant made us all stop and listen. Although the public health emergency ended in November, the virus is still very much at large and with other ways that the mosquito borne disease can be transmitted, it’s important that we don’t let our guards down.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus can also be transmitted by sexual activity

The potential for ZIKV to be passed on to sexual partners has been known for some time but little is known about the mechanism by which this occurs. A review of 18 clinical studies just accepted for publication in Clinical Microbiology and Infection confirms that ZIKV may be sexually transmitted by both males and females, and by those who are symptomatic or have no symptoms of their infection.

Research will of course continue into 2017 and beyond to not only find out exactly how the virus is transmitted, but also what can be done with regards to vaccine development.

Not knowing that you may be infected by the Zika virus, makes the risk of transmission even higher.

Zika Symptoms: How To Tell If You’ve Been Infected

Although death is very rare, the virus becomes a threat when people do not realize they’ve become infected. The virus remains in an infected persons blood for approximately one week and because most people wont even know they have it, they may continue to travel, and engage in sexual intercourse, ultimately worsening the spread of the virus. Insect repellents and avoiding infested areas are two of the most effective steps to avoid infection.

There are over 150 different mosquitoes in the U.S and put simply the best cure is prevention from these disease spreading pests. Protect yourself and your family from not only the threat of Zika, but all the other nasty illnesses that we are vulnerable to by letting a mosquito bite us.