First Zika infection between gay couple reported in the United States

'Make sure that you're protecting yourself when you go outside.'

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the case of sexually transmitted Zika virus between two men in Dallas, Texas.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - One of the men had traveled to Venezuela, where he was bitten by a Zika=infected mosquito.

When he returned to the United States and sexually interacted with his partner, he shared the disease.

Health officials have been warning travelers to Zika-infested territories to protect themselves from mosquito bites, then to practice safe or no sex upon their return.

Unfortunately, too few travelers - and their romantic partners - have listened to health officials, leading to an outbreak of Zika in the United States.

Though Zika has not been discovered in every U.S. state, the CDC continues to encourage the population to protect themselves from mosquito bites and engaging in sexual relations with newly arrived travelers from Zika-infected countries.

"Make sure that you're protecting yourself when you go outside," Plano health director Rachel Patterson warned. "Make sure that you're using repellent, long-sleeves, that you're emptying any standing water that's around your home, your residence, anywhere in the community that you see it."

Zika currently has no cure and no vaccine. It can be transmitted via sexual activity and mosquito bites.

Pregnant women are most at-risk as the virus is known to lead to birth defects, death in the womb, microcephaly and brain damage in newborns.

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