The researchers, however, said that they have not determined whether the Zika virus replicated in the vagina after women were exposed through sexual intercourse. Akiko Iwasaki, Senior Author and Immunobiologist at Yale University, said that the study observed replication of the Zika virus in the vaginal tissue of wild-type mice and mice genetically modified to be susceptible to Zika. She said they found that the Zika virus replicated in the vagina and persisted post-infection, even in normal mice. “What surprised us most was that the virus replicated in the vagina of wild-type mice,” she said. “In pregnant women, vaginal transmission of Zika virus may have a significant impact on the developing fetus,’’ she said.

Source: GNN Liberia August 27, 2016 09:22 UTC