Zika virus infection 'through sex' reported in US

A rare case of the Zika virus being transmitted through sex, not a mosquito bite, has been reported in the US.

A patient infected in Dallas, Texas, is likely to have been infected by sexual contact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told the BBC.

The person had not travelled to infected areas but their partner had returned from Venezuela.

Zika is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

It is spreading through the Americas and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the disease linked to the virus a global public health emergency.

The American Red Cross has meanwhile urged prospective blood donors returning from Zika-hit countries to wait at least 28 days before donating their blood.

The "self-deferral" should apply to people returning from Mexico, the Caribbean or Central or South America during the past four weeks, the Red Cross said in a statement.

Also:

• Two cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Australia. Officials said the two Sydney residents had recently returned from the Caribbean.
• Zika has also been found in two unrelated cases in the Republic of Ireland, officials there said. A man and an older woman, who have both recovered, had a history of travelling to a Zika affected country.

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In Brazil: Group makes Free abortion pills to tackle Zika virus. Warns pregnant women not to attend Olympic games

In Brazil, which has been the hardest hit by the Zika virus, Olympics organizers and the government have warned pregnant women not to attend the Olympic Games holding this year.

Rio 2016 organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada. said “We are sure we will win this battle of Zika virus and it will not affect the Games” 

The Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 to 21, during the southern hemisphere winter, which means there will be fewer mosquitoes, organizers stressed.

Also a Dutch women’s rights group has offered to send free pills to trigger an abortion to pregnant women in Latin America, a region known for its restrictive abortion laws.

“We are extremely worried that (the outbreak) might cause increasing unsafe abortions,” said Rebecca Gomperts, founder and director of Women on Web.

Since October, Brazil has reported 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly, of which 404 have been confirmed — up from 147 in 2014.

In all, more than 1.5 million Brazilians are estimated to have been infected with Zika.

Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have all warned women not to get pregnant.

Mexico announced it was creating special brigades to address areas likely to have more mosquitoes.

And Peru performed health checks on all Sao Paulo footballers visiting Trujillo for a Copa Libertadores match. They were all clear of Zika, dengue and chikungyuna.

Some health experts urge condom use, while others say abstinence is the only way to avoid Zika.

“Don’t have sex with a virus, it’s that simple,” said Jill Rabin, co-chief of the division of ambulatory care at Women’s Health Programs at Northwell Health in New York.

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Zika Virus Caused By Mosquito Bites Strikes Europe As 1st Person Tests Positive In Denmark

One person has tested positive in Denmark for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which causes severe birth defects, Reuters cited national news agency Ritzau as saying.

The Zika virus is contracted through mosquito bites and has been detected in human semen, but cannot be spread by human contact. Its symptoms are mild and include a fever, rash, joint pain and red, itchy eyes. Pregnant women are most at risk, as the virus has been linked to serious birth defects. The disease has gained international attention in recent weeks because of the increase in infected cases.

It causes a pregnant woman to give birth to a baby with a small head like that of a cocunut

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