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Tom Frieden

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5 Feb, 2016

CDC issues safe-sex guidelines

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The CDC says men exposed to the Zika virus and who have a pregnant partner should use a condom or abstain from sex until the baby is born, and that pregnant women who have been exposed to Zika should talk with their doctors about testing for the virus. Director Frieden:

Each passing day, the linkage between Zika and microcephaly becomes stronger…The priority is protecting pregnant women. If you’re pregnant, and you’re thinking about traveling to a place were Zika is spreading, please don’t. If you live in an area where Zika is spreading and you’re pregnant, please protect yourself against mosquitoes. That’s the bottom line…We know that four out of five people with Zika will have no symptoms. So our new guidance says pregnant women without symptoms can be offered testing between two to 12 weeks after travel.

Tests include serological blood tests, in addition to the ultrasounds recommended in the CDC’s first round of guidance.

We heard that serial ultrasounds were very challenging to the health community, so we are now rolling out blood test kits.

On reports that the virus can be transmitted through saliva.

We are not issuing guidance on kissing. We take all reports seriously, but we need more information including the methodology of the study. The bottom line is Zika is primarily a mosquito-borne disease.