health officials around the world are paying close attention to a dallas case of zika virus transmitted through sexual contact. the patient was infected by a person who picked up the virus in venezuela. at an emergency meeting of health officials in latin america , the director of the pan american health organization said this raises new concerns. carissa etienne/director, pan american health organization: "obviously it would bring a new dimension to the zika problem and that will be studied further." the mosquito-borne virus is rapidly spreading through latin america and the caribbean. health officials here in the u-s say they are not surprised to hear of transmission through sex but emphasize the disease is generally spread through mosquito bites. nine travel-related cases in florida prompted the governor there to declare a public health emergency in four counties - including miami-dade. "the bottom-line for the public in the continental us remains the same. if you are pregnant and thinking of traveling to a place with zika spreading.. don't." the virus has been linked to several thou