Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus Worries WHO.

 

The possibility of Zika virus being transmitted through sex is presently a source of concern to the World Health Organization (WHO). They expressed their worries on Wednesday after it was reported that the virus was sexually transmitted in United States and has called for further investigation into the mosquito-borne virus linked to birth defects.

It was also reported that the first known case in USA was in Dallas, Texas and was likely to be have been contacted through sex and not mosquito bite according local health officials.

 

"We certainly understand the concern. This needs to be further investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is, and whether or not other body fluids are implicated," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said while speaking with Reuter.

 

"This is only the second mooted case of sexual transmission," he said, referring to media reports about a case of an American man who returned from Senegal and is suspected of infecting his wife.

 

The virus, linked to babies born with abnormally small heads and birth defects in Brazil, is spreading rapidly in the Americas and the WHO declared an international public health emergency on Monday about the condition known as microcephaly.

 

The WHO global response team will discuss the sexual transmission report among other issues at its daily meeting later on Wednesday, Hartl said.