FX.co ★ Zika virus transmitted from person to person

A person-to-person transmission of the virus was registered in Texas. The virus was contracted through sexual contact with a person who has just returned from the country hit by Zika.

In Texas, there are seven people who were infected when travelling abroad. In the United States first infected people were registered at the end of January.

Earlier, cases of the virus were confirmed only in Latin America. It was supposed that Zika was a mosquito-borne infection that could not lead to lethal outcome. Thus, the vaccine was not developed. However, the virus can lead to severe birth defects.

The virus was discovered in Uganda’s forests in 1947. It was considered to be safe for people. In 2015, the virus came to South America from Africa and Asia. Zika quickly spread throughout the continent.

On February 1st, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus and its suspected link to birth defects an international public health emergency.