Zika virus infection in semen: A call to action and research

It’s difficult to turn to any major media outlet without being confronted with the latest breaking information on Zika virus infection. The images of newborns from Brazil with excessively small heads are searing. To most of the U.S. population, the Zika virus epidemic in South and Central America is mainly a travel concern. But to the millions of people living in areas from the Caribbean to Central and South America, Zika virus has proven to be a devastating public health crisis. Zika virus has the ability to cause severe neurologic disease in adults, and irreparable damage to an unborn baby’s developing brain and vision. The virus is unique because it is the first of its kind known to be sexually transmitted. In fact, two of the four reported cases of sexual transmission occurred within the United States. From previous reports, we know that Zika virus can be detected in the semen of men who have previously been infected with Zika, long after the infection has been cleared from the bloodstream. I recently attended two symposiums on Zika virus infection that featured world leaders in public health, infectious disease, neurology, high-risk obstetrics and immunology. While both seminars were excellent, very little information was available on Zika virus as it relates to sexual transmission. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs