The Ministry of Health in Chile has confirmed the country's first case of Zika virus to have been transmitted through sexual intercourse.
The new case of the virus involved a 46-year-old woman having a partner who was previously infected with ZIka while in Haiti.
Chile also confirmed [translated text] 10 additional cases of ZIka virus, which include people who acquired the virus outside the country.
The Zika Virus
The Zika virus disease is caused by the virus being transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. It is believed to be the cause of numerous cases of microcephaly in Brazil, where 900 babies are now showing birth defects. Babies with microcephaly are born with an unusually small head caused by developmental problems.
The signs and symptoms of Zika virus infection are most likely to be the same as those of dengue and chikungunya, in which one suffers fever, joint pain, rashes, muscle pain, headache and conjunctivitis or red eyes. The symptoms might last several days to a week but, for others, it might be longer.
A person who has been infected is likely to be protected from other infections.
There is so far no medicine to cure the virus or even a vaccine to prevent the virus from getting into the body, but healthcare providers suggest treating the symptoms immediately and avoiding places where cases of Zika virus have been recorded.
Previous reports have shown that the virus is easily transmitted from a mother to a child through birth. Medical practitioners are alerting pregnant women against being bitten by mosquitoes. According to records, there hasn't been a case of transmission through breastfeeding.
Transmission through blood transfusion is not yet found in cases seen in the U.S. but there have been many in Brazil.
Zika virus cases have been reported in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Africa, Southeast Asia and Pacific Asia.
Photo: Oregon State University | Flickr
