Zika Virus is Sexually Transmitted

Zika. Zee-kah. You’ve heard about how this mosquito-borne virus is barreling through the southern Americas, namely Brazil, and how it’s potentially linked to microcephaly, a condition wherein newborns are born with shrunken heads and severe disability.The World Health Organization said Thursday the virus could infect up to 4 million people this year. Since the Zika outbreak first sprouted in Brazil in May 2015, the country has notched around 4,000 cases of microcephaly.

The CDC Director Tom Frieden said "There have been isolated cases of spread through blood transfusion or sexual contact. The virus is in the blood for about a week. How long it remains in the semen is something that needs to be studied more. Zika has been sexually transmitted in Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. It is the first known case of the virus being locally acquired in the continental United States in the current outbreak.Click article here

 Lack of funding is why scientist have not been able to do more. Scientists say not nearly is being done before the virus sparks a global emergency. We do not have a medicine or vaccine to treat the infection. Only one in five people show symptoms of the disease and don't seek medical treatment - meaning Zika is a benign illness for the vast majority of patients.

The virus is spreading quickly and what makes it so scary is that Scientists probing the rapid onslaught of the virus claim pregnant women can catch it through unprotected sex. The best way to prevent infections is using DEET, covering most of the body with long pants and shirts and staying inside. The CDC Director Tom Frieden said "There have been isolated cases of spread through blood transfusion or sexual contact. The virus is in the blood for about a week. How long it remains in the semen is something that needs to be studied more."

How do you diagnose Zika, and can microcephaly be caught in time to terminate a pregnancy (if desired)? Click Here to read more......