US Investigates Strange Case Of Patient Infected With Zika Virus

US investigates strange case of patient infected with Zika virus

Since infection from a mosquito bite and sexual transmission of infection are excluded, doctors assume that the virus was transmitted by airborne droplets.

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American doctors from Utah were faced with an unusual case - the person who was diagnosed with the Zika virus did not travel to the regions where the Zika virus spreads and carry the mosquitoes, and also did not have any sexual contact with those who were infected or had the potential to become infected. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are carriers of the virus, have also not been found in Utah, where the patient lives, which negates the possibility that the patient was bitten by such an insect.

Experts suggest that the sick person was caring for an elderly patient who visited regions where the virus was spread and contracted from it. Subsequently, the elderly patient died, however, it cannot yet be said that it was the Zika virus that caused his death.

Since infection from a mosquito bite and sexual transmission of infection are excluded, doctors assume that the virus was transmitted by airborne droplets, but there is no confirmation of this. Experts note that they do not have any evidence that the virus can be transmitted by kissing, coughing or sneezing, and nothing is known about infection from hugging or touching.

The doctors are also surprised by the fact that the titer of the virus in the blood of a deceased patient was 100 thousand times higher than its amount in the blood of other patients. Perhaps this fact is also related to the unusual route of infection with Zika. The patient is now feeling well and is already recovering from the illness.

Doctors do not rule out that the virus can be transmitted in a different way than was commonly believed, however, they emphasize that the risk of such infection is quite low.

Source: CDC assisting Utah investigation of Zika virus infection apparently not linked to travel

CDC is assisting in the investigation of a case of Zika in a Utah resident who is a family contact of the elderly Utah resident who died in late June.

CDC