Evidence of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging flavivirus, generally causes mild infection in humans but is associated with severe neurologic complications and adverse fetal outcomes. ZIKV is transmitted to humans primarily by aedes mosquitoes. However, there is some evidence of sexual transmission.1,2 Two studies have shown the presence of infectious ZIKV in semen.3 A recent article described detection of ZIKV RNA in semen 62 days after the onset of illness, but infectious virus was not cultured.4

We report a case of ZIKV infection in a previously healthy 24-year-old woman (Patient 1) who was living in Paris and in whom acute fever, myalgia, arthralgia, and pruritic rash developed on February 20, 2016. She was not receiving any medication, had not received any blood transfusions, and had never traveled to a region where Zika was epidemic or to tropical or subtropical areas. Her last trip outside France was to Okinawa, Japan, from December 21, 2015, to January 1, 2016. A clinical examination on February 23 showed a maculopapular rash on the patient’s abdomen, arms, and legs and a temperature of 36.6°C. The illness lasted approximately 7 days.