Interim Guidelines for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus — United States, 2016

Transmission of Zika Virus Through Sexual Contact with Travelers to Areas of Ongoing Transmission — Continental United States, 2016

“…Although spread is primarily by Aedes species mosquitoes, two instances of sexual transmission of Zika virus have been reported (1,2), and replicative virus has been isolated from semen of one man with hematospermia (3). On February 5, 2016, CDC published recommendations for preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus (4). Updated prevention guidelines were published on February 23.…”

“…Two instances have been excluded based on additional information, and six others are still under investigation. State, territorial, and local public health departments, clinicians, and the public should be aware of current recommendations for preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus, particularly to pregnant women (4). Men who reside in or have traveled to an area of ongoing Zika virus transmission and have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms during sex with their pregnant partner for the duration of the pregnancy (4).…”

Sex, Mosquitoes and Epidemics: An Evaluation of Zika Disease Dynamics

“…The ongoing pandemic confirms that Zika is predominantly a mild or asymptomatic dengue-like disease but the Guillain-Barré syndrome and other neurologic conditions may represent grave complications of Zika (ECDC 2015;Goorhuis et al 2016;Oster et al 2016).…”

“…ZIKV has been isolated from semen, confirming evidence that other nonvector means of transmission exist (however, further studies are needed to determine how long the virus can remain alive in semen). Recently ZIKV has been found in the female genital tract and the first case of transmission of ZIKV through sexual contact of female to male has been documented (Davidson et al 2016;Prisant et al 2016), also blood transfusions (problem that requires attention, since 80 % of people with ZIKV are asymptomatic) and perinatal transmission have been documented (ECDC 2015;Goorhuis et al 2016;Musso et al 2015;Oster et al 2016). It is also suspected that the rapid spread of the virus is closely linked to people traveling to places where there are outbreaks and then return to their places of origin bringing virus with them (Ginier 2016;Goorhuis et al 2016).…”

The Convergence of a Virus, Mosquitoes, and Human Travel in Globalizing the Zika Epidemic

“…This, coupled with documented male-to-female sexual transmission of the virus, gave additional urgency to the epidemic [3,4].…”