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By Cara Adler
Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS
The first case of sexual transmission of Zika virus through anal sex between men has been reported by the CDC in MMWR.
The patient, from Dallas, acquired the virus in January during unprotected receptive anal sex with his male partner who had recently traveled to Venezuela, a country with active Zika transmission. The men had sex the day before and the day after the partner developed Zika symptoms. The patient developed symptoms one week after his partner did. Serum testing confirmed infection.
Cases of sexual transmission of Zika virus through vaginal sex have previously been reported.
The authors write, "Sexual transmission through both vaginal and anal sex is an emerging mode of Zika virus infection that might contribute to more illness than was anticipated when the outbreak was first recognized."
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LINK(S):
MMWR article (Free)
Background: Physician's First Watch coverage of sexual transmission of Zika virus (Free)
Background: Physician's First Watch coverage of CDC guidelines for reducing sexual transmission of Zika (Free)
NEJM Zika outbreak site (Free)