THE World Health Organisation has advised those returning from places affected by the mosquito-borne Zika virus to practice safe sex or abstain from intercourse altogether for at least six months to prevent the spread of the disease.
The UN health body on Sept 6 issued an updated guideline on the outbreak making recommendations
to all travelers, whether or not they show symptoms of the virus.
“WHO recommends practicing safer sex or abstinence for a period of six months for men and women who are returning from areas of active transmission… to prevent Zika virus infection through sexual transmission,” the agency was quoted as saying in The Star (via an AFP report).
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WHO suggested in June that men should avoid sex or use protection for eight weeks after coming back from visits to affected places if they did not show symptoms.
It said the primary transmission route of Zika virus is via the Aedes mosquito but mounting evidence has shown that sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible and more common than previously assumed.
Aedes aegypti, the vector for the dengue and Zika viruses. Pic: James Gathany.
It added that this is of concern due to the association between the Zika virus infection and adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes, including microcephaly – a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads – neurological complications and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
This review done by WHO comprises recent evidence on sexual transmission of Zika virus, which includes sexual transmission from asymptomatic males to their female partners, symptomatic female to her male partner, and longer shedding of Zika virus in semen.
“Based on this new evidence, the recommended length of time for safer sex practices for asymptomatic males returning from areas with active Zika virus transmission was extended from 8 weeks to 6 months,” it said.
“This is the same length of time as is recommended for symptomatic males.”
It said this recommendation now also applies to females, whether or not they have had symptoms. The six-month duration of safe sex practice upon return has not changed.
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The organisation added current evidence on persistence of Zika virus in semen, its infectiousness and impact on sexual transmission remains limited.
To date, Zika has infected 72 countries and territories and has been reported in Southeast Asian countries namely Singapore which was seen a spike of over 280 cases over the last few weeks.
Singapore is encouraging residents to use insect repellent, clear blockages in drains and wear long-sleeved clothing to protect themselves from mosquitoes as the number of Zika infections rose.
Singapore announced its first Zika infection in May, with the virus imported by a 48-year-old man who returned from Brazil.
The number of cases in the city state includes visitors from Malaysia, and Indonesian and Chinese nationals living there.
Additional reporting from the Associated Press
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