The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed a case of female-to-male transmission of the Zika virus in New York, but they remain mystified as to how the virus transmitted in Utah.
The case in New York represents the first time that the virus has spread from females to males during sexual intercourse. Previously, the virus was only reported as transmitted from men to women during sexual intercourse.
In light of this case, the CDC is currently working to update its guidelines for sexual intercourse during Zika virus infections.
In contrast, Utah health experts reported that a newly confirmed Zika virus infection was not linked to another infected person, an infected parent, a bite from an infected mosquito or sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
"The new case in Utah is a surprise, showing that we still have more to learn about Zika," Dr. Erin Staples, CDC medical epidemiologist, said. "Fortunately, the patient recovered quickly, and from what we have seen with more than 1,300 travel-associated cases of Zika in the continental United States and Hawaii, nonsexual spread from one person to another does not appear to be common."
Health experts maintain that people who are going to Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games should not be concerned about contracting the Zika virus.
