As Florida gets first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus, here’s all you need to know about the disease.
As if you didn’t have enough to worry about in your sex life. Florida health officials have confirmed the state’s first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus. One of two new cases discovered in Polk County, the virus was sexually transmitted from a resident who recently traveled outside the country, though the report did not specify where.
Normally contracted by mosquito bites, Zika has caused panic throughout the Caribbean, with cases confirmed in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, St. Vincent and Grendadines, and many other CARICOM nations. Though symptoms are mild, resembling the flu, the disease has been linked to higher rates of birth defects from mothers infected with the virus.
The fact that this disease can be sexually transmitted makes in all the more worrying for couples. The World Health Organization reports that the disease being sexually transmitted is far more common than previously reported. So how specifically is it sexually transmitted, and what can you do to prevent it? Check out the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) breakdown of the virus’s features and how to prevent infection.
Contraction
Men do the spreading
Reports confirm that the Zika virus is spread by a man to his sex partners. The virus can be contagious before, during and after men experience symptoms, as the virus can live longer in semen than in blood – though how long is not known. The CDC also does not know if women can transmit the virus to her sex partner. So, for now, only people whose male sex partners have traveled to areas with Zika transmission need to be concerned. If the guy in your life has traveled recently for a family trip to the Caribbean, talk with your doctor about getting tested for the virus. Men – talk to your medical provider about your travel history, how long you stayed, and whether you took any steps to prevent mosquito bites.
Prevention
Since the main source of contraction is through semen, proper use of a condom should cover all your bases. Taking precautions to prevent any accidental pregnancies should also be considered. But, if you are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, then you will definitely need to take extra precaution. Because of the link between Zika and birth defects, couples must take steps to prevent your partner from getting Zika during her pregnancy. In addition to condoms, the CDC strongly recommends to couples to not have sex while pregnant, as it’s the best way to be sure that someone does not get the virus. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what steps will be right for you.
