Zika Virus Detected in Patients' Saliva, Urine in Brazil; CDC Released Safe-Sex Guidelines

The Zika virus is being carried by mosquitoes. However, another concern regarding the possible transmission of the virus has surfaced when health officials in Brazil were able to detect Zika in the saliva and urine of patients.

According to one report from the Medical Daily, this idea of Zika virus infection via body fluids can only make matters worse in terms of the efforts to contain the outbreak.

In a press briefing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Tom Frieden said that one of their utmost priorities regarding the Zika virus outbreak is the welfare of the pregnant women. And, in line with this, the CDC released new guidelines for men who have partners who are pregnant with the goal of preventing sexual transmission of the Zika virus, according to a report from the CNN. 

The U.S. health agency advised those men who were exposed to the Zika virus and who have a pregnant partner to practice safe sex by using condoms or, better yet, avoid having sexual intercourse with their pregnant partners until after giving birth to the child.

"Men who live in or travel to areas of active Zika infections and who have a pregnant sexual partner should use latex condoms correctly, or refrain from sex until the pregnancy has come to term," Frieden told CNN. "...or until a test is available to see if he could possibly infect her."

"We don't know how long Zika can persist in semen. We're doing those tests now, but it could be weeks to months before we have an answer. That's why we've issued these guidelines now, specifically for male sexual partners of women who are pregnant," Frieden also added.

The CDC director noted that, as days go by, the association between the virus and microcephaly is getting stronger.

Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. The brain could have some problem in its development during the baby's stay inside the womb, or it could also stop from growing after the child is born.

Brazil has seen the rise of microcephaly cases among newborns during the past few months. There were more than 400 confirmed cases since November of 2015; from which, 17 were proven to have been associated with the Zika virus. Five of those cases related to Zika resulted to death. Overall, 15 babies have been reported to have died from the condition and health officials in the country are investigating 3,670 suspected cases.