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Russian Epidemiologists Recommend Chastity, Condoms to Avoid Spreading Zika Virus

A national epidemiology service has urged Russians to avoid kissing and to use condoms for a month after returning from overseas trips to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.

The recommendation by an epidemiology institute of consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor primarily applies to people who return from Brazil or other countries where Zika outbreaks have been registered, the report said.

The Zika virus has primarily been transmitted by mosquitos so far, but a handful of cases registered this month prompted hypotheses that the virus might also be sexually transmitted.

Russia's first case of the Zika virus was reported this week, according to Rospotrebnadzor.


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