Rio de Janeiro - O presidente da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Paulo Gadelha durante cerimônia que marca o início das transmissões dos canais do Poder Executivo na TV digital aberta no Rio (Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil)

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Zika virus in saliva, urine confirmed by Fiocruz

The only form of transmission previously announced by sanitary

Published on 05/02/2016 - 15:03 By Isabela Vieira reports from Agência Brasil - Rio de Janeiro

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) confirmed Friday (Feb. 5) the presence of the Zika virus, potentially capable of causing infection, in samples of saliva and urine. Fiocruz President Paulo Gadelha says the new forms of transmission will be further studied from now on.

“This confirmation is of great significance as it changes the way we conduct research as well as its level,” he reported.

In a press release, the institute says the evidence of transmission through these bodily fluids “suggests the need to investigate the relevance of oral transmission.” The only form of transmission previously announced by sanitary authorities were bites by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Based in Rio de Janeiro, Fiocruz is regarded as one of the world's top biomedical research institutes.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

Fonte: Zika virus in saliva, urine confirmed by Fiocruz

Edition: Talita Cavalcante / Augusto Queiroz