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Sexually transmitted dengue possible but rare —DOH


Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that cases of sexually-transmitted dengue are possible but rare after the first case of dengue spread through sex was confirmed in Spain.

In a Monday report by Maki Pulido on 24 Oras, Duque explained that the dengue virus can remain for as long as 37 days in semen and 23 days in urine and blood.

Last week, a man from Madrid contracted dengue after having sex with his male partner who got the virus during a trip to Cuba. 

“Walang history ng exposure ‘yung Spanish citizen, e. Ang meron lang dengue is the guy who came from Cuba, then nagkaroon siya ng symptoms ng dengue, the Spanish guy, so they tested him positive for dengue,” Duque said.

The health secretary added that the reported case in Spain might have been due to unprotected sex.

However, Duque clarified that there is no new strain of dengue virus.

He also advised the public to be more wary of normal infections or illnesses due to mosquito bites which can be avoided by keeping surroundings clean.

According to the World Health Organization, 390 million people every year contract Dengue. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News

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