Samples of Zika Virus Found in Saliva, Urine Samples

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Brazilian health officials said Friday that they had found live samples of the Zika virus in saliva and urine samples.

Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a biomedical research institution in Rio de Janeiro, said at a news conference that casual kissing "increases the risk" of being infected with the virus. He said, however, that there should be no anti-kissing policy.

Scientists at research institution said they were trying to determine whether body fluids could spread Zika to new patients.

Brazil entered the Carnival season Friday, a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at massive street parties.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization advised officials not to accept blood donations from people who recently returned from countries affected by the Zika virus.

The mosquito-borne virus is most prevalent in Latin America, particularly Brazil, and poses its greatest danger to pregnant women.

"With the risk of incidence of new infections of Zika virus in many countries ... it is estimated as an appropriate precautionary measure to defer donors who return from areas with Zika virus outbreaks," the WHO told the French news agency AFP on Thursday.