Sexually transmitted case of Zika virus in Texas

Nurses COVID

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We have had a case of Zika virus show up in Texas in a woman who has not traveled to an affected area. It's believed that she contracted the illness through sexual contact with an infected individual.

Zika Virus Outbreak Updates: Dallas Case Spotlights Sexual Transmission - ABC News

In addition to concerns about birth defects occurring in children of infected mothers, there seems to be a disturbing incidence of Guillain Barre associated with it. The anti vaxxers would have you believe that vaccines are the cause of GBS, but the fact is that it is more often associated with actual infection of various viruses and bacterial infections.

I wonder if this virus is going to be the "next big thing."

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Specializes in Hospice.

Sexually transmitted? Seems likely.

Here we go again ...

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Two boys (15 year olds) were talking about Zika, wondering if the CDC had declared it an epidemic yet. This is while we were away, out of state, on a school trip.

The word is out.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Two boys (15 year olds) were talking about Zika, wondering if the CDC had declared it an epidemic yet. This is while we were away, out of state, on a school trip.

The word is out.

Saw something about this today on the news - I case likely contracted through sexual contact. Mosquito borne virus but found mostly in just one type of mosquito that is currently rare in US. General mosquito precautions - Use repellent - get rid of standing water etc... Reduce risk of sexually transmission Men used a condom for a minimum 6 months if you think you may have been exposed. Women avoid pregnancy for 1 to 2 years if you think you have been exposed.

More fun to follow

Hppy.

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I work in a public health setting with a reproductive and sexual health focus. My clinic isn't near the area where the mosquito of concern is, but with news of sexual transmission my patients are certainly concerned. We emphasize condom use, avoidance of travel to affected areas if planning a pregnancy or currently pregnant, and we keep a watchful eye on CDC notifications for further guidance. Part of the trouble is that there just hasn't been enough research done to issue comprehensive guidelines or recommendations in tricky instances like sexual transmission. One of the resident physicians on rotation with us is also working with the CDC to help answer questions they get on the phones, and she says many of the answers she has to give fall in the lines of "we don't know" and "that hasn't been researched yet, but we are working on it." There's still a goodly amount that we just don't know.

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The aedes aegyti AND the aedes albopictus are BOTH natural vectors for the Zika virus. Aegypti are less common/ less broadly established BUT the albopictus are all over the eastern US and in large numbers. They are hearty, aggressive, and adaptive. We do have something to worry about. (I studied medical entomology and have a little research under my belt.)

There's a map for the US distribution for the two aedes mosquitoes on the second page:

http://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/CHIKV_VectorControl.pdf

Surveillance and Control of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the United States | Chikungunya virus | CDC

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.

There is information going around now that supposedly the zika virus isnt the cause of the microcephaly but apparently brazil was requiring pregnant women to get the dtap vaccine and that caused it? Zika has been around for several decades and why it would be causing birth defects now seems odd. Not saying I believe that theory 100% but I dont trust the fda or cdc 100% either.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
There is information going around now that supposedly the zika virus isnt the cause of the microcephaly but apparently brazil was requiring pregnant women to get the dtap vaccine and that caused it? Zika has been around for several decades and why it would be causing birth defects now seems odd. Not saying I believe that theory 100% but I dont trust the fda or cdc 100% either.

Do you have a credible source for this information?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
Do you have a credible source for this information?

Credible? Probably not. Which is why I stated I dont necessarily believe it, but I also dont think its impossible either. There is also speculation that an anti larve spray is to blame. All I know is this virus is not new, but this microcephaly issue is and I dont think they should be stating that x is definitely causing y and cause people to panic. They should be researching a lot more than just the virus as a cause.

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many other listings.... perhaps we should simply not be drinking larvacide?

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Credible? Probably not. Which is why I stated I dont necessarily believe it, but I also dont think its impossible either. There is also speculation that an anti larve spray is to blame. All I know is this virus is not new, but this microcephaly issue is and I dont think they should be stating that x is definitely causing y and cause people to panic. They should be researching a lot more than just the virus as a cause.

I have not read any credible source that says the microcephaly has "definitely" been caused by any particular thing. Merely that there "may" be an association. Considering the high stakes involved, I don't think it's out of bounds for them to recommend that pregnant women avoid areas of zika infection until they figure out what is causing this problem.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.

I agree that caution should be shown, however the way it is portrayed in the media is that the Zika virus IS THE CAUSE of the microcephaly. I doubt that IF the larvae spray or the vaccine is the cause that they will divulge that information freely to the public.

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