Brazilian Health Officials Add ‘No Kissing’ and ‘No Sex’ to List of Zika Virus Precautions

Brazil Carnival
AP Photo/Leo Correa

Brazilian health officials are warning pregnant women to seriously consider who they kiss and to use condoms if they have been in countries were the Zika virus is present.

“The flurry of recommendations began in Brazil, where a top health official warned pregnant women to be caution with their kisses,” the AP reported late on Friday,

This announcement came at the start of a five-day drunken Carnival festival “where kissing as many people as possible is a top pastime,” reported the AP.

The guidelines issued also suggested that men use condoms even if their female partner is not pregnant. They also suggested abstaining from sex entirely.

Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz research institute, told reporters at a press conference that scientists have found live virus in saliva and urine, and that the possibility that the Zika virus could be spread by these two body fluids requires further study.

He also said that pregnant women should take other precautions to protect themselves and their unborn child, including kissing only a regular partner, and not sharing the forks, knives, glasses, or plates of those who may have symptoms of the Zika virus.

Previous reports by Breitbart News confirmed that Brazilian scientists have detected the live Zika virus in human saliva and urine. Their fear is that a person can contract the virus by coming into contact with these fluids.

Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director of the epidemiology department at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York was asked about these suggestions to pregnant women. She was reported to say, “I can understand the Brazilian Health Ministry being concerned about not leaving out any potential mechanism for transmission, even if it’s theoretical.” She added, “Brazil is in a particularly difficult position.”

Brazil is believed to be the country hardest hit by the Zika virus, and Brazil’s top health official said that the virus is proving worse than believed possible because most cases show no symptoms, Breitbart News reported. The country has launched a door-to-door campaign executed by 220,000 soldiers to combat the spread of the virus. Moreover, more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly have been reported and 200 or more cases are being diagnosed every week, reported Breitbart News.

U.N. officials are asking Catholic dominant countries in Latin America to allow pregnant women to have abortions if they fear their unborn child may be at risk for a Zika virus related birth defect such as microcephaly, as reported by the AP. Abortion is not legal in these countries unless a judge signs off on the procedure.

At least one Brazilian judge has declared he will approve abortions for women who have contracted Zika and can prove their unborn child has microcephaly or ancenephaly. In Brazil, abortions are only legal with judicial approval, reported Breitbart Texas.

As reported by Breitbart News, Planned Parenthood is taking advantage of Zika virus fears to push for the expansion of abortion-on-demand throughout Latin America.

Breitbart News has also reported that the fear of an unborn child developing microcephaly or other birth defects due to the Zika virus, has pushed women to get illegal abortions according to the Brazilian daily Folha de São Paulo.

The AP reported that the National Conference of Bishops in Brazil did not immediately comment on the U.N.’s suggestion to loosen abortion laws.

Lana Shadwick is a writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. Follow her on Twitter@LanaShadwick2

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.