Scientists find Zika in saliva, urine; unclear if can transmit infection

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Reuters

Zika has been identified in the saliva and urine of two patients infected by the virus, a leading Brazilian health institute said on Friday, adding that further studies are needed to determine if those fluids could transmit the infection.

Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a public health institute, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika, the mosquito-borne viral infection that has sparked a global health scare.

It is the first time the virus has been detected in saliva and urine, scientists told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection, but the scientists stressed that it was too early to say whether Zika could be transmitted by either fluid.

"That fact that the virus was found with the capacity to cause infection is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids," said Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-zika-brazil-idUKKCN0VE1L5

[B2G]

1. If if can be transmitted through semen

there's a chance it could.

[forest444]

2. This is clearly a new strain - much worse than the one that's existed since 1947.

There's been a good bit of confusion about that, in large part thanks to the media's omission of the fact that this is, in fact, a new, far more dangerous strain.

While we can't yet be certain, there's already a good indication of where this new strain may be originating:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110847269

[Sunlei]

3. what I find off/odd is "More Than 2,100 Pregnant Colombian Women Infected With Zika Virus. There are

"More Than 2,100 Pregnant Colombian Women Infected With Zika Virus. There are no reported cases of microcephaly or deaths from the virus"

This quote can be searched. I wonder if Brazil has a different strain of Zika OR the birth defect is caused by a different chemical altogether. Some countries spray a lot of bad stuff around and regular people can be exposed in air, water and foods.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

4. There are very recent reported deaths in Columbia

Via AFP

Three die in Colombia after contracting Zika, developing nerve disorder: official

Bogota (AFP) - Colombia said Friday that three people had died after contracting the Zika virus and developing a rare nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre, in which the immune system attacks the nervous system.

"We have confirmed and attributed three deaths to Zika," said Martha Lucia Ospina, head of the National Health Institute. "In this case, the three deaths were preceded by Guillain-Barre syndrome."

http://news.yahoo.com/three-die-colombia-contracting-zika-developing-nerve-disorder-182451893.html;_ylt=AwrBT9xq67RWmfEA.iBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNW84ODh0BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjE1NjNfMQRzZWMDc2M-