Oregon has its first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus

PORTLAND – The Oregon Health Authority says the state has its first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus.

The agency said Friday the illness was spread from a man who traveled to Zika-affected country to a woman who had not traveled. Both later tested for positive for the virus that’s generally spread by mosquito bites.

Most people who get Zika have no symptoms, and those who do generally avoid serious illness.

But the virus has been linked to a serious birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads.

U.S. health officials have issued guidelines to prevent the sexual transmission of the virus, telling men who have been to outbreak areas to abstain from sex with pregnant women or use condoms.

Pregnant women should try to postpone travel to Zika-affected regions.