RACGP eHealth forum highlights
Watch all the highlights of the second RACGP eHealth Forum held on October 27th. For full videos of all three sessions, login to RACGP.TV via myRACGP.
Preventing sexual transmission of Zika: updated advice
The Department of Health has provided updated advice regarding recommendations on preventing sexual transmission of Zika. The main change is the period of abstinence/pregnancy deferral/safe sex for asymptomatic men, which increases from eight weeks to six months. The revised version emphasises the availability of testing for couples and people who cannot wait the recommended time periods, noting concerns about consequences of delaying pregnancy.
These revised recommendations are based on the evidence that:
- the longest reported period between symptom onset and sexual transmission is 32–41 days (based on an incubation period of 3–12 days)
- Zika virus RNA has also been found in the semen of five men more than 90 days after onset, and in one case up to 188 days after onset of infection
- viral RNA has been detected in the genital tract of one woman on day 11, and another up to day 13, and was cleared by day 17 in both women.
Visit the Department of Health website for further information.