Zika found in saliva; no Carnival kissing, Brazil warns pregnant women | Reuters

 

Zika has been found in the saliva and urine of two patients in Brazil and while it is not known if such body fluids could transmit the virus, the discovery could make pregnant revellers wary of kissing strangers during the country's often uninhibited Carnival festivities.

Brazilian scientists announced their discovery on Friday, as U.S. health officials advised more stringent measures for monitoring pregnant women for Zika and for preventing sexual transmission of the virus.


The disease that has spread rapidly through the Americas and led to a global health scare over its possible link to severe birth defects, is primarily transmitted by mosquito. The possibility of infection via body fluids could complicate efforts to combat the outbreak.


Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a Brazil federal government biomedical research institution, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika. They stressed, however, that more studies were needed to determine if those fluids could transmit the infection.

It was the first time the virus has been detected in saliva and urine, the scientists told reporters in Rio de Janeiro, where the five-day Carnival began on Friday, a huge event with street parties and a lot of drinking alcohol.


The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection. But Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery, noted that this "is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids."

But the foundation urged pregnant women to take precautions and avoid crowds during Carnival. Some revellers even keep track of the number of complete strangers they kiss.