Sask. woman may have nation’s first case of Zika virus from sexual contact
Before heading out on that hot holiday this spring break, pack the mosquito spray and condoms, say Saskatchewan health officials after the province’s — and Canada’s — first probable case of Zika virus transmission through sexual contact.
In fact, you’ll want to keep those condoms in reach for several months upon returning home from vacation.
“We want to be sure that people who are returning from travel are aware that … men could infect women on their return,” deputy chief medical health officer Dr. Denise Werker told a news conference in Regina on Thursday.
“Currently, the new recommendations are that men should use condoms for six months after return from travel,” she said, adding that’s precautionary.
“There is new scientific evidence that the virus can remain in semen for as long as two months.
“So we want to be sure that people returning from these wonderful holidays where they go to escape the Saskatchewan cold that … there’s not sexual transmission on return.”
That’s exactly the situation that prompted this public health concern.
Preliminary tests suggest a Saskatchewan woman “probably” has Zika, but it could take two to three weeks for lab confirmation.
“If confirmed, this would be the first case of sexual transmission of Zika in Canada,” Werker continued.
The man who likely passed on the virus returned from a Zika-infected country and was confirmed to have the virus.
“We have holiday season coming up … We wanted to make sure that persons who are travelling know about the precautions they should take when travelling, but also when they return.”
Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in South and Central America, the Caribbean, southern parts of North America and many tropical and sub-tropical locales.
The infection from Zika is usually mild and lasts for a week or less.
But there is particular concern for pregnant women, since the virus has been linked to infants born with microcephaly, an abnormally small head.
Zika has also been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that can cause muscle weakness or paralysis.
“What is of concern in terms of Zika infection is that 80 per cent of people may not know that they have infection. And they may presume that it is safe to have sex when it may not be,” Werker added.
Back in February, officials confirmed one resident, who had been travelling outside the province, had contracted Zika virus.
During Thursday’s news conference, Werker revealed that there have now been two confirmed cases in total in Saskatchewan, along with this one case, potentially contracted sexually, that’s under investigation.
For the confirmed cases, no information was released about the gender, age or where the person had likely contracted the virus except that it was outside the province.
Werker said that information or whether or not the cases are linked is not relevant from a public health stance.