The First Case of Zika Virus Spread Through Sex Reported in the United States

The first known case of Zika virus, possibly transmitted through sex, has been reported on Tuesday, February 2, in the United States.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this development to the Dallas County Health and Human Services just a day after the World Health Organisation declared the Zika Virus an international public health emergency.

Officials stated that the disease was "likely contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite."

The Zika Virus was originally thought to be contracted only via mosquitos, however, now the link to sexual transmission has been revealed, this can be an alarming twist in this dreaded disease presently affecting the Americas, with Brazil being heavily hit.

Initial reports surfacing as to the nature of the sexual contact, indicates that the individual in the U.S with the virus was infected via sexual contact with someone who had traveled to Venezuela.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a statement where they said; "Case details are being evaluated, but the possibility of sexual transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person is likely in this case."

As global health officials seek to quickly come to grips with the Zika virus, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) stated that more evidence was required before it can be fully confirmed that Zika can be spread through sex. Medical literature on the virus has one instance where Zika was detected in semen.