As of March 30, 2016, 312 cases of travel-associated Zika have
been identified in the U.S. There have been no locally-acquired cases in
U.S. states, but 349 locally-acquired cases in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin
Islands.
U.S.
CDC has issued new recommendations for prevention of sexual transmission of
Zika virus for couples in which a man has traveled to or resides in an area
with active Zika virus transmission:
- Couples in which a woman is pregnant should use condoms
consistently and correctly or abstain from sex for the duration of the
pregnancy
- Couples in which a man had confirmed Zika virus
infection or clinical illness consistent with Zika virus disease should
consider using condoms or abstaining from sex for at least 6 months after onset of illness
- Couples in which a man traveled
to an area with active Zika virus transmission but did not develop
symptoms of Zika virus disease should consider using condoms or abstaining
from sex for at least 8
weeks after departure from the area
- Couples in which a man resides in
an area with active Zika virus transmission but has not developed symptoms
of Zika virus disease might consider using condoms or abstaining from sex
while active transmission persists
Zika
virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. Though less common, Zika
can be transmitted through sexual contact from a male to his partner. Only one in five people infected with Zika
show symptoms, which include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. Illness
is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week.
For more information:
- Maine CDC Zika webpage: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/zika
- U.S. CDC Zika webpage: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html
