Zika Infection, Sexually Transmitted: One More Addition in Risks Surrounding Sex

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Zika virus has broader and stronger chances to be transmitted sexually as the virus stays in the vaginal fluids and semen longer than the other bodily fluids. All sorts of sex practices like sharing sex toys, anal, vaginal or oral sex are all valid reasons of virus transmission.

Studies conducted at the center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that previously known to be an infection solely caused by a mosquito bite Zika virus is not transmitted by the bite of a mosquito called Aedes aegypti only but it can be transmitted sexually, too.

Though Zika virus is not deadly and no cases of death are reported to be caused by it but the danger of the infection lies in damaging a fetus's brain if a mother is infected with Zika virus during pregnancy.  As a result, a child is born with microcephaly - an underdeveloped small brain, All About Zika reported.

A Zika virus infected patient suffers from symptoms like joint pain, red eyes, fever, headache, and rashes. The symptoms may last for 7 days.  It is a low-grade infection but can be dangerous if complications occur.

The basic vector of Zika virus transmission is mosquitos. But, La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology carried a study recently and found that female mice were infected when ZIKV was placed on their vaginas. The rodents' reproductive tract was infected fully.

The lead researcher at the institute Sujan Shresta, Ph.D. said that if the discovery is applicable to humans, significant implications for public health can occur.  

Dr. Shresta expressed her concern over the possibility of spreading the virus sexually in humans and said that it can be a cause of alarm especially when there is no vaccine to prevent Zika virus and with the new study findings it is feared that virus if sexually transmitted can have great implications for human health according to Center of Disease Control.

Zika fever is linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome which is a condition when the immune system paralyzes and nervous system damages resulting in rapid muscle weakness. Respiratory muscles also get affected which makes it hard for the patient to breathe. In this case, the virus may be a life-threatening condition that may kill.