Officials: Zika Spread Through Sex By Man With No Symptoms

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The mosquito behind the Zika virus seems to opera... FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The mosquito behind the Zika virus seems to operate like a heat-driven missile of disease. Scientists say the hotter it gets, the better the mosquito that carries Zika virus is at transmitting a variety of dangerous illnesses. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) MORE LESS
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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are reporting the first case of Zika spread through sex by a man with no symptoms of the disease.

In earlier cases of sexual transmission, the virus was spread by someone who at some point had symptoms.

Zika is mainly spread by mosquitoes, and causes only a mild illness in most people. But infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.

Friday’s report details the case of a Maryland man who went to the Dominican Republic, where there is a Zika outbreak. He didn’t get sick but his sex partner did and recovered.

Doctors believe Zika spread from someone with no symptoms is extremely rare. They said the case is not reason enough to change health advice to couples.

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Online:

Report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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