New York City’s Health Department on Friday reported the first female-to-male transmission of the Zika virus, which is most typically spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the report was the first documented case of sexual transmission of Zika from a woman to her male sex partner.
“All previously reported cases of sexually transmitted Zika virus infection have been spread from men to their sex partners,’’ the Atlanta-based CDC said in a statement.
Health department officials then confirmed her infection.
As soon as her male partner developed symptoms seven days later and sought treatment from the same caregiver, he, too, was diagnosed with Zika.
They said the timing and sequence of events support female-to-male Zika virus transmission through unprotected vaginal sex.
The CDC said it recommended that all pregnant women who have a sex partner who has traveled to or resides in an area with Zika use barrier methods such as a condom every time they have sex.