The Delaware Division of Public Health announced Wednesday that two more Delawareans have contracted the Zika virus, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 10.
The state also announced new prevention recommendations now that it’s been shown women can transmit the virus.
"Pregnant women, whether your partners are men or women while you’re pregnant, we want you to use some barrier methods to make sure you don’t get Zika transmitted to you,” said AweleMadukaEzeh, medical director for Delaware’s Division of Public Health.
Men and women should use condoms or other sexual protection for at least 6 months after returning from a country where Zika is actively transmitted, according to the new guidelines. Zika has been found in semen 42 days after transmission. It leaves the blood stream after 7-10 days.
All 10 cases of Zika in Delaware were acquired by mosquito bites while traveling abroad and none of them involved pregnant women.
A Sussex County woman and a New Castle County man were the latest people in the state to test positive for the virus.
