A New York City report of female-to-male sexual transmission of zika virus infection is the first documented case of sexual transmission of zika from a woman to her sex partner and adds to the growing body of knowledge about the sexual transmission of zika.
All previously reported cases of sexually transmitted zika virus infection have been spread from men to their sex partners, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
Independent follow-up interviews with the woman and man corroborated the exposure and illness history. The patients were consistent in describing illness onset, symptoms, sexual history, and the woman’s travel. This information also was consistent with the initial report from the primary care provider.
The timing and sequence of events support female-to-male zika virus transmission through condomless vaginal intercourse.
Current guidance to prevent sexual transmission of zika virus is based on the assumption that transmission occurs from a male partner to a receptive partner. Ongoing surveillance is needed to determine the risk for transmission of zika virus infection from a female to her sexual partners.
CDC recommends that all pregnant women who have a sex partner who has traveled to or resides in an area with zika use barrier methods every time they have sex or they should not have sex during the pregnancy. Although no cases of woman-to-woman Zika transmission have been reported, these recommendations now also apply to female sex partners of pregnant women.
CDC is currently updating recommendations for sexually active people in which the couple is not pregnant or concerned about pregnancy and for people who want to reduce personal risk of zika infection through sex.
