March 21, 2026 10:56 pm (IST)
Follow us:
First case of sexually transmitted Zika virus infection recorded in the US
Dallas, Feb 3 (IBNS): A person in Texas, United States, has been infected with the defect-causing Zika virus after having sex with a person who apparently caught the virus while visiting Venezuela in South America, the local media reported quoting county health officials on Tuesday.
The traveller from South America, now identified as 'patient O' and the person in Dallas, now identified as 'patient 1' have both tested positive according to local health authorities.
Typically, the Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bites. But this instance of the disease being transmitted sexually has made health authorities even more concerned.
Zachary Thompson,Dallas Director, County Health and Human Services has said, “Now that we know Zika virus can be transmitted through sex, this increases our awareness campaign in educating the public about protecting themselves and others.”
He also said, “Next to abstinence, condoms are the best prevention method against any sexually-transmitted infections.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Zika virus has spread rapidly and has so far been detected in 25 countries, with a surge in cases of microcephaly particularly in north-eastern Brazil. The protocol for diagnosing it starts with measuring the head of a newborn at least one day after birth to see if it is below a certain level. The disease could be responsible for a number of problems, from convulsions to learning disabilities.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Silent killer rising: Young women face surge in heart disease deaths
Sat, Mar 21 2026
Wake up and work out: Early exercise may slash heart disease risk
Sat, Mar 21 2026
Study shows low to moderate wine consumption shows lower risk compared with spirits, beer and cider
Sat, Mar 21 2026
Why Women Should Have Individual Health Insurance
Fri, Mar 20 2026
Shocking study: Type 1 diabetes may triple dementia risk
Fri, Mar 20 2026
Belly fat bombshell: Why your waistline matters more than BMI for heart failure risk
Wed, Mar 18 2026
Smoking fathers, sick kids? Study finds alarming diabetes link
Mon, Mar 16 2026